Chapter 4 The Clear Sky Hammer Ranked Twentieth?
The Clear Sky Sect Has Broken Its Defenses!
Throughout the Douluo Continent, from top powers to ordinary soul masters, everyone was stirred by this sudden change in the heavens.
Confidence, anticipation, ambition, calculation… a multitude of emotions permeated the air.
Almost everyone believed this would be a ranking battle among the top martial souls they were familiar with.
However, they were unaware that deep within the Sunset Forest, an academy called "Collapse" would rise to the martial soul rankings with an overwhelming force, shattering all their preconceived notions!
Just as the entire Douluo Continent, from the supreme Pope and elders to the proud sect leaders and the fledgling young soul masters, were all immersed in extreme confidence in their own martial souls and boundless anticipation of the Heavenly Dao's rewards, and were each expressing their own "outrageous theories"—an indescribable, vast pressure descended without warning, instantly enveloping the entire Douluo Continent.
Clouds froze, the wind ceased, birds fell to the ground in panic, and beasts prostrated themselves and cried out in despair.
From titled Douluo with boundless soul power to children who had just awakened their martial souls, and even ordinary birds and beasts, everyone felt a sense of insignificance and trembling in the face of the immense power of heaven and earth at this moment!
The golden light covering the sky grew brighter and brighter, and after a moment of brewing, it finally condensed into a line of ancient and majestic characters.
At the same time, the vast voice of the Heavenly Dao once again resounded in the minds of all living beings:
[Martial Soul Ranking, 20th: Clear Sky Hammer]
Boom—!
The entire Douluo Continent seemed to have been hit by a bomb, instantly exploding into chaos!
"Twenty... 20th?!"
"Clear Sky Hammer?! The number one weapon martial soul in the world is only ranked 20th?!"
"What a joke! Is there a mistake in this golden ranking?!"
Exclamations, doubts, and incredulous roars swept across every corner of the continent like a tsunami.
Especially those soul masters who had personally witnessed the fame of the Clear Sky Hammer felt that their understanding had been completely overturned.
Clear Sky Sect, Hidden Valley.
The elders, who had been brimming with confidence just moments before, believing the Haotian Hammer would at least be in the top three, and even aspiring to the top spot, instantly froze with smiles.
On the sect plaza, the disciples who had previously been filled with anticipation for the Golden Ranking's debut were now as if doused with ice water; their excitement instantly turned to bewilderment and humiliation.
"Twentieth... how could it only be twenty?!" a core disciple cried out, his voice filled with resentment.
"Twentieth... twentieth?!" Elder Lieyang, known for his fiery temper, took a sudden step forward, his violent soul power erupting uncontrollably, shattering the hard stone slab beneath his feet!
His hair and beard bristled as he roared to the sky, his voice booming: "What a joke! My Clear Sky Hammer is the number one weapon spirit in the world, how could it be ranked last?!"
"Bullshit! Utter bullshit! My Clear Sky Hammer is the number one weapon spirit in the world, unparalleled in attack, capable of shattering the dawn with a thousand pounds of force! How could it be ranked twentieth?! This ranking is unfair! Heaven is unfair! It must be the Spirit Hall pulling strings in the dark!"
The elders behind him also had ashen faces, their fists clenched so tightly that their nails dug deep into their palms.
Sect Master Tang Xiao's pupils also shrank, his fingers gripping the armrest of his chair turning white from the force.
Although Heaven's evaluation was extremely high, calling it "the pinnacle and benchmark," this ranking... was simply an insult!
However, the ranking ignored the uproar on the continent and the Clear Sky Sect's anger, continuing to mercilessly display the information:
[Evaluation: Clear Sky Hammer, a top-tier offensive weapon spirit, the number one weapon spirit in the world!] Its weight is immeasurable, its power immense, its attack invincible, and its battle unmatched; it is the pinnacle and benchmark of all offensive martial souls. However, the martial soul itself is not considered top-tier; it is the self-created soul skills that elevate it to its rightful height.
[Strongest Holder: Tang Chen, Level 99 Title Douluo, the most talented member of the Haotian lineage, self-created soul skills: Great Sumeru Hammer, Ring Explosion, and Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique, King of Slaughter!]
[Rewards: All soul rings' age increased by 10,000 years, 100,000-year soul bone 'Earthshaking Demon Bull Left Arm Bone'—greatly amplifies the strength and explosive power of the left arm, with the soul bone skill 'Earthquake Wave,' which strikes the ground with full force, generating a powerful shockwave covering a wide area, causing area-of-effect stun and damage, and has additional destructive effects on building targets.]
[Most Talented: Tang San, Level 42 Soul Master, Twin Martial Souls, the Chosen One, destined to become a god!]
[Rewards: Soul Power level increased by one level (Level 43), all Soul Rings' age increased by 500 years, one Immortal Herb 'Dragon Elephant Bone Forging Grass' – after consumption, it can greatly temper the physical body, improve the strength of bones and muscles and the foundation of power, and has significant benefits for absorbing high-age Soul Rings in the future!]
After the extremely angry Clear Sky Sect elders and disciples finished reading the follow-up content of the Golden List, especially the terrifying rewards, they were all stunned, and their minds instantly calmed down.
But then again... although the Golden List placed the Clear Sky Hammer in twentieth place, the Heavenly Dao rewards were real and enviable.
That was a 100,000-year Soul Bone, and the reward of increasing the age of all Soul Rings by 10,000 years!
Even for the Peerless Douluo Tang Chen, this was an unimaginable huge improvement! And there was also the reward for Tang San, the sect leader Tang Xiao's nephew... the Immortal Herb 'Dragon Elephant Bone Forging Grass'.
Unheard of, just hearing its effects, one knew it was no ordinary item.
"The Heavenly Dao is so strict, yet so generous?"
Tang Xiao muttered to himself, and then a strong sense of unease surged into his heart.
If even the Clear Sky Hammer is only ranked twentieth, then what kind of heaven-defying martial souls must be ahead?
His words seemed to be reassuring his clansmen, but more like a difficult attempt to convince himself.
The Clear Sky Hammer's glory had stood tall on the continent for many years, yet today, before the entire world, it was nailed to the twentieth position. This enormous disparity made his heart ache.
Just as the twentieth place on the Golden List was announced, the celestial screen changed instantly, transforming into a real-time projection that split in two, shining on the two ranked individuals respectively.
Boom! Boom!
Two golden beams of light, of different thicknesses, ignored spatial distance.
One fell into the depths of the City of Slaughter, enveloping the Slaughter King who was lost on his throne.
The other precisely descended upon Tang San on the Shrek Academy playground!
"Ugh—ahhhhh!"
Enveloped in golden light, Tang San's mind trembled violently. He felt a surge of pure and boundless energy flow into his limbs and bones, and his soul power instantly broke through the barrier, reaching level forty-three!
At the same time, the original yellow soul ring deepened in color, still not quite purple, but the power of his soul skills had already increased.
More importantly, a celestial herb exuding a primal aura, with leaves like dragon scales, fell into his hand—the "Dragon Elephant Bone Forging Grass."
He could sense that this herb would greatly benefit his cultivation of the Mysterious Heaven Technique and the Chaotic Cloak Hammer Technique! "Third Brother! Congratulations!" Xiao Wu was the first to exclaim in surprise. Dai Mubai and the others also gathered around, their faces full of envy.
"Increased soul power, increased soul ring age, and that Elephant Immortal Grass—the Heavenly Dao's rewards are too generous!" Ma Hongjun exclaimed in amazement.
Yu Xiaogang trembled with excitement as he walked to the celestial camera and roared at the heavens:
"See that! This is the talent of my disciple Tang San! Even the Golden List acknowledges Xiao San's potential, saying he has the makings of a god. So what if the Clear Sky Hammer is 20th? The most talented one is Xiao San, and he will surely surpass his predecessors in the future!"
Flander pushed up his glasses, already calculating how much prestige and sponsorship Tang San's ranking on the list would bring to Shrek Academy—the old shrewd businessman.
However, in stark contrast to Tang San's joy at receiving the award, the atmosphere within the Clear Sky Sect was even more oppressive.
"The award winners are actually the long-lost Ancestor, and that disgraced son of a scoundrel..." an elder said with a complex tone.
Tang Xiao looked at the image of Tang San receiving the award on the celestial screen, his eyes filled with even more complex emotions.
The sect's glory had been tarnished, and the sect's future hope was adrift outside... a truly lamentable situation!
(End of Chapter)