Chapter 280: Ning Que, You Truly Deserve to Die!
Damn.
That was Shi Nian's first thought upon seeing Tang Hao's face.
Shi Nian was a villain this was beyond question.
And precisely because of that, he had always paid special attention to the major powers of the continent
Especially to notorious figures like himself.
The last thing he wanted was to accidentally provoke someone he couldn't handle and die a meaningless death.
So, the moment he saw Tang Hao, he recognized him immediately.
This was Tang Hao the most infamous outlaw on the continent.
The man who killed the previous Pope of Spirit Hall with his own hands.
And now, he was here.
Following him.
Why?
Shi Nian had no idea.
But he didn't care.
His expression turned ruthless
Without hesitation, he struck straight for Tang Hao's throat!
Who cared about the reason?
"Kill first, think later!"
Tang Hao was clearly targeting him
What, was he supposed to believe Tang Hao was here for a friendly chat?
Ha!
Clear Sky Sect had sealed itself away
So what if Tang Hao died?
Even if the truth came out, worst case scenario
He could discard his freedom and join Spirit Hall.
After all, he'd be avenging their previous Pope!
Would Spirit Hall really fear a mere Clear Sky Sect?
Thoughts flashed through Shi Nian's mind as his hand closed in
His fingers just a hair's breadth from Tang Hao's throat.
"Almost there!"
A grin began to form on Shi Nian's lips.
Then
BOOM!
A violent eruption of soul power burst from Tang Hao's body.
His head suddenly tilted back
And from his mouth, a heart wrenching scream tore through the night.
"No A'Yin!"
Just an inch away
Shi Nian froze in disbelief as Tang Hao's unleashed power sent him flying.
BANG!
Shi Nian's body slammed into a tree, then crashed to the ground.
His chest heaved violently, blood spilling from his lips.
He had attacked with full force, making no effort to defend himself.
And now
He had taken a direct hit.
A single exchange
And he was seriously injured.
And now
Tang Hao finally turned his gaze toward him.
Just one look.
And Shi Nian felt his very soul freeze.
The sheer killing intent nearly stopped him from even getting up.
Red eyes.
A face twisted in rage and bloodlust.
Shi Nian shivered involuntarily.
"Clear Sky Sovereign… Please… I didn't know it was you… Spare me…"
Tang Hao didn't care.
At all.
The hood had already been torn away, revealing his face.
But what did it matter?
Shi Nian was already dead.
If before, Tang Hao had been after his skull soul bone
Now, it was pure bloodlust.
Shi Nian had broken through his mental defenses.
Had dragged him into an illusion of his worst nightmare.
He had been forced to relive A'Yin's loss.
But this time
He had watched, powerless, as the Wind Baboon tore A'Yin away from him.
And he could do nothing.
Nothing.
If Shi Nian's mental strength had been just a little higher…
If he hadn't possessed the Slaughter God Domain…
Tang Hao didn't even want to imagine what would have happened.
His grip on reality had nearly collapsed.
Shi Nian had to die.
No hesitation.
His right hand lifted
The Clear Sky Hammer appeared.
A deep crimson soul ring rose into the air.
His mental power, soul power, and killing intent locked onto Shi Nian completely.
Shi Nian couldn't move.
Tang Hao stepped forward.
Despair.
For the first time in his wretched life, Shi Nian felt absolute despair.
They were both villains
And he already knew what fate awaited him.
"#@￥*￥%@..."
He tried to curse
But his mouth wouldn't move.
Sealed shut by Tang Hao's soul power.
Tang Hao's face grew larger in his vision
And then
His Clear Sky Hammer shrank.
Shi Nian's eyes widened.
And in the next moment
The now miniature hammer landed on his left kneecap.
CRACK!
The sickening sound of bone shattering echoed through the forest.
Shi Nian's mouth opened in a silent scream.
But no sound came.
Tang Hao's left hand had already clamped around his throat
Completely cutting off his voice.
"Don't worry."
Tang Hao's voice was a whisper
Like a demon murmuring in the night.
"This is just the beginning."
Shi Nian's mind sank into the abyss.
It was over.
It was all over.
Then, the breaking began.
One by one
CRACK.
CRACK.
CRACK.
The sound of shattering bones filled the forest.
With each break
The red in Tang Hao's eyes slowly faded.
Until at last
Shi Nian's body lay motionless in his grip.
Tang Hao's hand loosened
And the broken man fell lifelessly to the ground.
At some point perhaps from the first time he broke Yu Xiaogang's legs? Tang Hao had grown fond of this method of venting his frustrations.
Delivering the most excruciating deaths to his enemies seemed to be the best way to ease the suffocating bitterness in his heart.
On the ground, Shi Nian no longer even had the strength to groan.
He struggled to move the only part of his body still under his control his head turning it toward Tang Hao.
With the last shred of his will, he croaked out a question from the depths of his soul:
"Wh…y…kill…me? I… don't… think I… ever… wronged you…"
"Why?"
Tang Hao let out a mocking snort, looking down at the broken and mangled figure before him.
"Do I really need so many reasons to kill you?"
"I… refuse… to accept this…"
Shi Nian barely managed to squeeze out the words, his eyes burning with venomous hatred.
"Since you're about to die, I suppose I can tell you."
Tang Hao squatted down, seemingly quite satisfied with the expression in Shi Nian's eyes.
"Your Seven in One Fusion Skill blocks my son's path."
"Your soul bone I want it."
"Are these reasons enough for you?"
Shi Nian's lips moved, but he no longer had the strength to make a sound.
"But your greatest mistake…"
Tang Hao's face suddenly twisted with fury as he abruptly stood up.
"…was daring to attack me."
"Was making me remember those goddamned things!"
Without hesitation
Tang Hao lifted his right foot high
And stomped down toward Shi Nian's skull, intending to crush it outright.
Whoosh!
An ice arrow shot toward his raised leg.
Tang Hao immediately sensed the soul power fluctuation, halting his motion in an instant.
His Clear Sky Hammer swung out, shattering the ice arrow into pieces.
"Who is it?!"
"Show yourself!"
Tang Hao's gaze locked onto the direction the attack came from, releasing a suffocating wave of soul power toward that area.
"Fufufu~ We meet again, Clear Sky Sovereign."
A familiar voice drifted into Tang Hao's ears.
And then
A figure dressed in white strolled leisurely into view.
"Ning Que. You again."
Tang Hao's killing intent flared instantly.
Of course, he remembered this little rat.
A so called disciple of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, who had escaped from his grasp once before.
"You're still so hot tempered, Your Eminence."
Ning Que smiled pleasantly, his tone filled with deference
But in Tang Hao's ears, every word dripped with veiled threat.
"You dare threaten me?"
Tang Hao's grip on the Clear Sky Hammer tightened.
"Oh no, how could I possibly threaten Your Eminence?"
Ning Que tilted his head, still grinning.
"I wouldn't dare "
"I wouldn't want to end up like Shi Nian here, after all."
"But what I meant to say was…"
He suddenly paused.
Tang Hao froze slightly
And then
He saw Ning Que's smile widen.
"Tang Hao!"
"Taste my Tower Dio!"
The moment Ning Que's words fell, Tang Hao instantly sensed a disturbance above him.
Looking up
Four massive ice crystal Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Towers
Had somehow appeared above his head
Stacked within each other, forming a descending spiral of destruction.
And they were crashing down upon him with unstoppable force.
No hesitation.
Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer swung upward to intercept.
"Damn brat! Still as treacherous as ever!"
"And now his attacks can hide their soul power fluctuations?"
DUANG! DUANG! DUANG!
Three thunderous clashes erupted in mid air.
Tang Hao narrowed his eyes something was off.
"Wait… Where's the fourth one?"
Turning his head, he saw
The fourth ice crystal Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Tower had curved mid air, dodging his counterattack
And was enveloping Shi Nian's body instead!
And rapidly retreating toward Ning Que!
"Damn it! He's after Shi Nian's corpse and his soul bone!"
Tang Hao moved to intercept.
But just as he took a step
Ning Que's teasing voice echoed in his ears.
"Oh, Your Eminence don't forget."
"We're not far from the city gates."
"If you take one step forward…"
"I'll detonate the ice towers, letting everyone see your masterpiece."
"Oh, and by the way "
"I'll personally deliver Shi Nian's corpse to Heaven Dou Imperial Academy."
"You think the Three Education Commissioners won't recognize Clear Sky Hammer inflicted wounds?"
"Surely, you wouldn't want your identity exposed just yet?"
Tang Hao's footsteps halted.
He could only watch
As Ning Que's figure vanished into the forest.
For a long moment
Tang Hao stood there, his face dark as thunder.
Just as he was about to leave, Ning Que's voice drifted back one last time
From an unknown direction.
"Oh, Your Eminence Shi Nian asked me to pass on a message before he died."
"He said…"
"His illusions only induce memories."
"He cannot create them."
"So before he died…"
"He just wanted to ask "
"What exactly did you see in your nightmare?"
"Was A'Yin hurt?"
"Fufufu~"
Silence.
A terrifying silence.
And then
Tang Hao's eyes turned crimson once more.
BOOM!
His Clear Sky Hammer smashed into the ground, splitting the earth.
"Ning Que…"
"You deserve to die!"
He had stalked all day.
For nothing.
The soul bone was stolen.
And he had been played with.
He clenched his fists, trembling with rage.
He hated this.
He hated Ning Que.
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