Martial Soul City.
Outside the imposing Papal Palace, the air felt strangely calm—too calm for Hu Liena's liking.
What unsettled her most was her teacher's reaction after her return.
Bibi Dong, who by default punished harshly and without mercy, had not locked her up. Not even for a month. Not even for a day.
Instead, the Pope had questioned her endlessly about Lu Yuan.
That alone was enough to make Hu Liena suspicious. Normally, simply failing a mission would have earned her bitter penalties. Yet this time, not only was there no punishment—there was leniency.
It was baffling.
Before she could dwell longer, a familiar, flamboyant figure approached. Yue Guan—the Chrysanthemum Douluo. His usual arrogance seemed dampened, replaced by something verging on humility.
"Nana," Yueguan began carefully, "why don't you tell me where exactly you obtained that Strange Velvet Chrysanthemum?"
The eagerness in his tone revealed his desperation. For him, this was no casual request.
If he could refine such an herb—it might be the key to breaking past his bottleneck, allowing him to leap from rank ninety-five to ninety-six. To a Title Douluo, that was a qualitative leap, not just mere numbers. The difference between life and death in a true duel.
And yet, despite trailing her for over ten days, not once had Yue Guan managed to loosen Hu Liena's tongue.
This girl's mouth was too tight.
Even with all his coaxing and pressing, the Pope's proud disciple never said a word.
Of course, Yue Guan dared not truly push her. Harassing Hu Liena would be no different than insulting the Pope herself. And that—even Chrysanthemum Douluo wasn't foolish enough to attempt.
Still, he tried one last time.
"Nana, why don't you just… give me this flower?" His tone softened, almost pleading. "Name your price. Any condition. I'll meet it."
Hu Liena shook her head firmly. "I already told you. I swore to my friend—I won't reveal anything."
Her eyes were resolute, her will unwavering.
That word—friend—made Yue Guan grind his teeth.
"What friend? That brat again!"
He could guess with his toes who she meant. The timing said enough. Hu Liena had gone to see Lu Yuan, and when she returned, she just happened to be holding an immortal-grade chrysanthemum. Who else could it be from?
And that damn boy! Not only had the Pope begun to show unusual attention to him, even Hu Liena shielded him constantly.
Yue Guan wanted to march to Lu Yuan personally and pry the truth from him. But did he dare?
Not after the last time Chen Xin (Sword Douluo) all but played him for a fool. He still remembered the humiliation of that "routine."
Tch. Forget it. Provoking Lu Yuan directly wasn't worth the gamble.
But before Yue Guan could wallow further in frustration, a sudden aura gripped him—the kind that claws straight into the marrow. Powerful. Overwhelming. Terrifyingly familiar.
His body stiffened.
Cold fear pierced him.
That aura…
"Tang… Tang Hao!"
The name left his mouth trembling.
The very next heartbeat, as if tearing through time and space itself, Tang Hao appeared. His body burst from the sky, red eyes burning like molten iron, the massive Clear Sky Hammer already swinging down.
"Chrysanthemum… take your life!"
The voice was guttural, bloodthirsty, scarlet with hatred.
The hammer fell.
Boom!
The force of the blow alone tore through Yue Guan's hastily erected defenses. His Strange Velvet martial soul unfurled, layers of golden petals wrapping around him, two defensive abilities triggered instantly. But even so—
Crack—!
Both barriers shattered like glass!
The impact hurled him backward, smashing him across the plaza, his body skidding before he caught himself. Blood spilled from his lips.
"You're insane, Tang Hao!" Yue Guan spat, fury and fear mixing in his voice. "Charging into Martial Soul City—you really do have a death wish!"
The hatred between Tang Hao and the Hall went without saying; everyone knew it. Years ago, the fall of a Pope could be traced back to Tang Hao's hands. To appear in their city so brazenly… it was madness.
But Tang Hao's bloodshot eyes glared with a ferocity that silenced reason.
"Yue Guan," Tang Hao growled darkly, "tell me where my wife is, and I'll spare your life."
His giant hammer hovered in his grip, trembling with killing intent.
Yue Guan froze, stunned.
His… wife?
He thought back. Didn't Tang Hao's wife sacrifice herself back then? So how—?
This couldn't make sense.
Yet Tang Hao's voice was vicious, unrelenting. "Ah Yin was taken by your Martial Soul Hall dogs. Don't test me."
Yue Guan's expression twisted. He wanted to curse.
Lose your wife and throw the blame on me?
"Are you out of your mind?! I don't know anything about your wife!" he barked back. Inwardly, however, his confidence grew. Holding out for just a few moments would be enough. Tang Hao's intrusion into the city wouldn't go unnoticed. The Papal Palace would hear soon, and then… they would see who died here.
Yet Tang Hao didn't give him time.
"If you won't speak," Tang Hao snarled, hammer rising again, "then I'll crush the Papal Palace itself until she is found!"
As he roared, another aura flickered nearby—dark, ghostly, hollow.
Guimei had arrived.
The Ghost Douluo appeared silently at Yue Guan's side, his eyes narrow.
Yue Guan glanced at him, muttering bitterly. "You always show up with that look. Don't start imagining things—I don't like women."
"Gan," he cursed under his breath, finally squaring up.
Tang Hao sneered at them both. "Good. Chrysanthemum and Ghost. All the better. I'll take you two down together!"
Spirit power erupted from his body as his soul avatar blazed to life. Behind him, a golden phantom manifesting his Clear Sky Hammer appeared, an echo that doubled his already terrifying strength.
The hammer expanded, swelling from massive to colossal.
"Big Sumeru Hammer!"
With a deafening roar, he swung violently, the shockwaves tearing apart the streets of Martial Soul City. Stone shattered, walls cracked, entire buildings trembled.
"Fourth Soul Ability—Lonely Appreciation!" Yue Guan's spirit power surged, his figure vaulting into the sky as a giant chrysanthemum bloomed in his hand. A dazzling beam of holy light burst outward, seeking to slow Tang Hao's hammer.
At the same time, Ghost Douluo triggered his transformation.
"Seventh Soul Ability, Ghost True Body!"
His form dissolved into shadow. His attributes surged to terrifying heights, his presence flickering in and out like a phantom.
"Fifth Soul Ability, Ghost Shadow Land Hand!"
From under Tang Hao's feet, two massive black hands of condensed spirit power clawed upward, seeking to bind him in place.
But Tang Hao's wild strength tore through them. He ripped himself free with sheer brute force, the Clear Sky Hammer splitting the earth as another swing descended. Granite streets caved and collapsed, cracks spreading like webs.
He could not stop. He would not stop.
"A Yin was mine! You dared touch her—I'll bury you with the Hall!"
He detonated ring after ring, exploding three soul rings in succession. Spirit power flared like a volcanic eruption. His aura nearly doubled in ferocity. Even knowing the dangers—that his spirit rings might collapse from overusing the Exploding Ring technique—Tang Hao no longer cared.
His wife had been taken. His reason was gone.
Yue Guan's face twisted under the pressure, forced to unleash his ultimate move.
"The ninth soul ability!" he cried. "The Chrysanthemum—Heartbroken!"
The immense chrysanthemum in his hand detonated into thousands upon thousands of golden petals. Like countless steel blades, they whirled into a raging golden tornado, shredded air howling in murderous fury.
The golden storm rose high into the sky, clashing head-on with Tang Hao's descending hammer.
"Boom! Boom!"
Each collision sent shockwaves tearing into the city.
Meanwhile, Ghost Douluo hissed darkly.
"The ninth soul ability… Hundred Ghosts Night Walk!"
Above Tang Hao's head, a rift of darkness expanded wide. From within it poured an unending stream of howling specters, vengeful ghosts screaming as they plunged down upon him.
Tang Hao's muscles bulged with rage, veins throbbing. His hammer descended through the storm of petals, ripping through the golden tornado, shattering Yue Guan's ninth soul skill.
The overwhelming strike smashed directly into Chrysanthemum Douluo. His scream echoed across the city, his body hurled violently through the air.
At the same time, the horde of vengeful ghosts from Ghost Douluo crashed into Tang Hao.
Explosions swallowed the plaza in endless chaos.
--
Unlock 50 exclusive advanced chapters for just $10 – don't miss out! Check the synopsis/description for the link! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!