##DONE##
"Tang Xiao, you were muddle-headed, but your death isn't without some heroism."
"Originally, I only intended to use you as a sparring partner, but now it seems you're worthy of dying by my hand."
Above, the Clear Sky Hammer, unleashed in its Weapon Soul True Body, resembled a dark red mountain, its terrifying soul power amplified by the momentum of its descent, threatening to obliterate everything.
With that one hammer strike, Tang Xiao's soul power was almost entirely depleted. His once thick hair instantly became dry and brittle, and his still-resolute face was etched with wrinkles.
That all-out hammer blow not only consumed all of Tang Xiao's soul power, but also burned away what little lifespan he had left.
Even if he was lucky enough to survive, he wouldn't have many years left to live.
Facing the overwhelming, earth-shattering Clear Sky Hammer, Lin Xiao slowly raised the Crimson Sky Sword.
Flame Burst Phoenix Transformation, Phoenix Nirvana Transformation, Phoenix Fire Three Profound Transformations… all three amplification soul skills were stacked upon him, along with Soul Power Armor and Soul Devouring Fire Armor.
At the same time, Lin Xiao's soul power, mental power, and the five different colors of Phoenix Fire converged on the Crimson Sky Sword like rivers flowing into the sea.
The intricate phoenix runes on the Crimson Sky Sword lit up, and a crimson gem at the hilt shone brightly, like the eye of a phoenix.
All the energy and Phoenix Fire, after being compressed by the Crimson Sky Sword, would unleash an extremely terrifying power.
"Dragon Slayer."
As the two words escaped Lin Xiao's lips, the immense energy was compressed into a line of fire, lashing out towards the descending Clear Sky Hammer, like a rope binding a dragon.
Light lost its brilliance;
Sound lost its voice.
Tang Xiao saw nothing else, only that ultimate point of crimson light.
The dark red Clear Sky Hammer began to crack from the center, the dark red profound iron beneath being burned red-hot by the Phoenix Fire, disintegrating and melting inch by inch.
It was like watching a slideshow.
Tang Xiao's mind replayed his life, from his pampered upbringing in the Clear Sky Sect, to traveling with his brother Tang Hao and meeting Ah Yin, his father being angered to death by Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Sect's destruction…
The final image that stuck was a small, delicate face, that of a six-year-old Tang Yuehua, before she had awakened her Martial Soul, innocent and carefree.
"Yuehua…"
"Brother was wrong."
Tang Xiao suddenly realized.
Images of Tang Yuehua at various stages of her life flashed through his mind.
The innocent little girl at six, the beautiful young woman in her prime, the mature and charming beauty, and finally, a prematurely aged woman with graying hair.
A tear trickled from the corner of Tang Xiao's eye…
Now.
He didn't regret coming to the Star Luo Empire; the grief and anger in his heart made it impossible for him to live a peaceful, meaningless life. He would either revive the Clear Sky Sect, or die trying.
But his only regret was entrusting those nine old, weak, sick, and disabled individuals to Tang Yuehua before his death.
Yuehua, his sister, how much more suffering would she have to endure in this world? If only she had less of a sense of responsibility, she wouldn't have to be the Moon Madam, wouldn't have to deal with these mundane matters…
"Life is truly bitter."
After a heavy sigh.
A point of crimson light also appeared between Tang Xiao's eyebrows.
Then, his body spontaneously combusted.
In an instant, he turned to ashes, leaving behind only a few pieces of Soul Bone.
Lin Xiao sent out a Black Lotus from his palm, and the Black Sun Purifying Fire enveloped Tang Xiao's soul, storing it within the Nether Feather Fire Crow's Million Year Soul Ring.
From then on, the Clear Sky Hammer fell.
The last Titled Douluo of the Clear Sky Hammer died at Lin Xiao's hand.
The Martial Soul disintegrated, vanishing into thin air.
...
After dealing with Tang Xiao.
Lin Xiao didn't leave, but immediately released his Pupil Technique Domain, and two golden crow phantoms soared into the sky, searching in different directions.
Soon, Lin Xiao had a discovery.
He took the Ice Empress and Snow Empress with him, flying towards an inconspicuous small hill.
"Has Your Majesty been observing for a long time? Have you gained anything?"
A clear, youthful voice rang out.
An old man dressed in simple clothes, looking like an old farmer, stopped and turned to look at Lin Xiao.
"How should I address you?"
"Just call me Lin Xiao."
Lin Xiao looked at the old man before him with considerable curiosity. During his battle with Tang Xiao, he had faintly sensed someone watching.
He hadn't paid much attention to it, simply because the Ice Empress and Snow Empress were by his side. However, Lin Xiao noticed that both the Ice Empress and Snow Empress had located the person's presence, with the Snow Empress only sensing that someone was spying.
Now that the battle was over, it was natural to come and take a look.
"Young friend Lin is a prodigy, truly making this old one ashamed."
"You may simply call this old one Star Crown Douluo, young friend."
Star Crown Douluo?
Lin Xiao had some impression of him.
It seemed that after the fall of the Star Luo Empire, it was the owner of the Star Crown Martial Soul who replaced the Dai Family, becoming the new royal family of the Star Luo Empire, while the original Dai Family became the White Tiger Dukes.
The Star Crown Sect was already extremely low-key and secretive.
Apart from its extremely secretive and close relationship with the Star Luo Royal Family, its reputation was not prominent.
He hadn't expected that there would actually be a Titled Douluo.
Lin Xiao found this very novel.
Immediately, he took out millennium spirit tea from his Storage Soul Tool, smiled slightly, and said:
"I am very interested in the history and culture of your sect. If Senior has nothing to hide, please do not hesitate to enlighten me."
Star Crown Douluo gave a wry smile.
"A remote and desolate place, a rustic sect. If young friend Lin wishes to know, there is nothing that cannot be said."
Lin Xiao then sat down with the old man to discuss the Dao.
He roughly figured out the historical development of the Star Crown Sect.
The Star Crown Sect did indeed have a very subtle relationship with the Dai Family of the Star Luo Royal Family.
The founding emperor of the Star Luo Empire and the ancestor of the Star Crown Sect were close friends. The vast Star Luo Empire was built from the two men's concerted efforts. Later, when the Dai Family became emperors, the Star Crown Sect became a secret sect that shared the fate of the nation.
In the Star Luo Empire, although the fiefdoms owned by the Star Crown Sect were not many, the cultivation resources and the number of experts it controlled were among the best.
There was also an interesting anecdote here.
The ancestor of the Star Crown Sect and the founding emperor of the Star Luo Empire once had a gentleman's agreement: that the emperor should rotate, and next year it would be his family's turn.
If the Star Luo Empire were to encounter difficulties in the future, and the Star Luo Royal Family was unable to recover, the Star Crown Sect would mobilize the entire sect to stand with the empire to the death, but thereafter the Dai Family Royal Family would have to cede the throne to the Star Crown Sect.
The identities of the Dai Family Royal Family and the Star Crown Sect would be reversed. In the future, the Dai Family Royal Family would fight for the country... and in any case, both families would share wealth and honor.
"I see."
Lin Xiao was a little curious.
It was normal for him not to know about the Star Crown Sect, but Zhu Zhuyun had no reason not to know of the Star Crown Sect's existence. Where, then, did she get the courage to usurp the throne?
Could it be...
Did this woman's courage come from him?
Or perhaps, she was confident that she could handle all the relationships of interest after taking the stage.
Having met by chance, Lin Xiao was about to bid farewell.
Suddenly, the Star Crown Douluo looked at the Ice Empress and Snow Empress beside Lin Xiao with a strange expression, and said:
"Young friend Lin Xiao, this one has a question."
"I wonder what level your two esteemed wives have reached... why can't this old one see through them?"
Two... esteemed wives?!
One address, three people numb.
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