"You've arrived."
Winter's snowfall had originally blanketed the surroundings, but at this moment, it had completely melted away. The sky suddenly cleared, and a blazing sun hung overhead. Chen Xiaoming casually glanced up, a faint smile appearing on his lips.
Suspended mid-air, a young woman who appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen wore a golden palace gown. The style was both ancient and elegant, with a golden high collar that protected her snow-white, slender neck. Her long golden hair cascaded freely down her back.
Her golden eyes were as calm as still water. Between her brows was a small six-winged angel emblem. Paired with her breathtakingly beautiful features, she exuded an enticing allure.
"You don't seem surprised at all!"
Seeing Chen Xiaoming more composed than herself, Qian Renxue couldn't help but feel puzzled. They had never met before. The only reason she knew of Chen Xiaoming was because of the shame he had brought upon the Spirit Hall in that fateful battle years ago.
Her grandfather, along with several elders of the Spirit Hall, had fallen at his hands. Their deaths demanded retribution in blood.
"Oh? Surprised? Why would I be surprised?"
Raising an eyebrow, Chen Xiaoming slowly ascended, reaching the same altitude as Qian Renxue.
"You must understand, I've waited a full eight years just to see you ascend to godhood."
"Do you have any idea how I spent these past eight years?"
Chen Xiaoming's emotions gradually intensified. His eyes gleamed with excitement, his fists clenched tightly. Memories of the past eight years flashed through his mind—basking under the sun for an hour each day, taking an afternoon nap, enjoying leisurely tea breaks, wandering across the Douluo Continent, sightseeing at various locations...
"For the past eight years, I've been training diligently. Every single day, I... hmm, well, as long as you know I worked hard, that's enough."
Chen Xiaoming had intended to say more, but since he had never truly engaged in rigorous training, he had no idea what that actually entailed.
But he had indeed put in effort! For eight years, his system had continuously accumulated experience points just from breathing. That should count as training, right?
Yes, absolutely!
"I don't care how you've spent your years. I only care that the disgrace you brought upon the Spirit Hall must be repaid in blood!"
Qian Renxue's gaze gradually turned icy. Eight years ago, Chen Xiaoming had defeated Qian Daoliu, devastated half of the Spirit Hall, and caused immense casualties among their Titled Douluo. At the time, she had been stationed undercover in the Heaven Dou Empire's royal palace but was recalled urgently.
Qian Daoliu, heavily wounded by Chen Xiaoming, had barely survived long enough to initiate the Angel Inheritance Trial.
In the end, though gravely injured, Qian Daoliu endured the trial's final stages, ultimately sacrificing himself.
However, his obsession with defeating Chen Xiaoming had lingered, shaping Qian Renxue over the past eight years.
Thus, the moment she ascended to godhood, she came to settle the score.
Hearing her words, Chen Xiaoming's brows furrowed, his playful smile gradually fading, replaced by a sharp gaze. Repayment in blood?
"Very well. Let's not debate past rights and wrongs. Since you've become a god, whether you can reclaim your honor depends on the strength of your fists."
With a tremor of his body, an invisible wave of energy spread outward, a faint silver glow instantly enveloping the surrounding ten thousand meters.
Qian Renxue remained unperturbed, allowing the silver radiance to enshroud her. Her expression remained serene as her golden eyes locked onto Chen Xiaoming, awaiting his move.
She sought to defeat him at his strongest—just as he had once done to her grandfather.
"Make your move."
Qian Renxue's indifferent words made Chen Xiaoming pause momentarily. Then, a smirk crept onto his lips.
Let him attack first? How many years had it been since someone had dared speak to him in such a manner?
"Interesting, interesting. A mere Angel God dares to be this arrogant."
Chen Xiaoming suddenly felt intrigued. Glancing at the accumulated experience points in his system, he decided to hold off on leveling up. A flash of cold light passed through his eyes—he wanted to see just how strong a true god really was.
Boom!
Soul power erupted from Chen Xiaoming's body, vast and boundless like an ocean. Nine hundred-thousand-year soul rings materialized, dancing around him. As his soul bones activated to their peak, a terrifying aura coalesced into a blood-colored pillar that pierced the sky.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! …
A series of heavy sonic booms resonated through the surroundings. The air itself trembled under the pressure. Nine blood-red hundred-thousand-year soul rings spiraled around the blood pillar.
"Manifest!"
The Azurewood Tree Martial Soul emerged in his right hand. The nine soul rings instantly descended, one by one. A brilliant crimson light flickered, and in an instant, the Azurewood Tree grew frantically, reaching thirty meters in height within moments.
The nine soul rings hovered rhythmically around the tree. As Chen Xiaoming clenched his right hand, they tightened like iron bands around the Azurewood Tree.
As the first ten-thousand-year soul ring merged, a streak of crimson bled into the previously azure tree. The already formidable Azurewood Tree became even stronger.
Chen Xiaoming focused intently, not rushing to unleash his bloodline's full potential. Since Qian Renxue had given him the opportunity to act freely, he was happy to indulge.
This move represented the peak of his soul power—a technique inspired by Sword Douluo, Chen Xin.
Despite lacking overwhelming strength, Chen Xin's comprehension was unparalleled. He had fused all his soul rings into his Seven Kill Sword, dramatically increasing its power. When Chen Xiaoming had fought him in the past, he had considered this very approach.
Lacking the Clear Sky Clan's Exploding Ring Technique, he had instead achieved soul ring unification, reaching the state of Nine Rings as One over the years.
Ding... Ding... Ding... Ding... Ding... Ding...
The second soul ring, the third, the fourth…
As each hundred-thousand-year soul ring merged into the Azurewood Tree, its original azure hue radiated with a dazzling crimson brilliance.
Vast soul power continued to gather. Qian Renxue, who had remained indifferent thus far, finally showed a trace of seriousness. Having just ascended to godhood, she felt a genuine sense of danger from this attack.
"Not good."
Her expression shifted drastically. The faint smile on her lips vanished as an indescribable divine pressure surged from her. A layer of golden mist-like radiance emerged from her body.
Ding.
With one final chime, the ninth soul ring merged into the Azurewood Tree. Under the surge of immense soul power, the towering thirty-meter tree shrank to a mere three meters—resembling a crimson staff—before striking toward Qian Renxue.
The sheer force of the attack fractured the surrounding space, causing dark spatial rifts to manifest instantly.
"Take this, Qian Renxue."
"The mightiest sword needs no edge—the greatest skill is no skill at all!"
-------
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / igotneonlight