Tang Hao's Absolute Break sent a slash into the ground, creating a deep ravine.
Tianlin leaped up, using his soul bone skill, Hurricane Vacuum Slash, to block the fierce impact.
He understood now. The Seven Kill Sword Skills couldn't match the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, which rivaled the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer. To counter it, he needed to use the Seven Kill Sword Dao.
But even then, the Seven Kill Sword Dao would only be evenly matched. If Tianlin wanted to completely suppress Tang Hao, he'd have to use Shu Mountain Sword Skills.
Tang Hao continued swinging his hammer, now using Absolute Bind. When the Clear Sky Hammer and Demon Sword clashed, instead of bouncing off, they stuck together like glue, trapping Tianlin's sword.
This move was meant to seal an opponent's sword skills. With their weapon stuck, even the finest techniques would be useless.
The only way out was to recall the martial soul by willpower and summon it again, but this left a one-second gap.
Tianlin saw through Tang Hao's plan and simply withdrew his Demon Sword.
Tang Hao sneered. The Clear Sky Nine Absolutes were meant to be used in sequence. "You fell for it. Absolute Collapse!"
Absolute Collapse was the most powerful strike of the Nine Absolutes. Against a lower-quality martial soul, this could destroy it outright. Even Tianlin's powerful soul forced Tang Hao to first force the sword to be recalled.
He was confident. If this strike landed, even Tianlin's body would have his organs shattered.
But at that moment, a terrifying sword intent surged from Tianlin. Tang Hao felt as if a sky-covering giant sword emerged from behind Tianlin.
"What?!" Tang Hao was forced back by the sword aura. His combat experience told him this move was far deadlier than Absolute Collapse—even the Sumeru Hammer couldn't block it.
"You've underestimated me, Tang Hao. Do you think all I have is my master's sword skills? Let me show you my strongest sword technique. This is—Heavenly Sword!"
Heavenly Sword—the supreme Shu Mountain sword art, fusing body and blade, drawing on the power of nature. Sword qi swept across, forming a domain and merging with the world itself, its might unfathomable.
Tianlin's Heavenly Sword didn't require a physical sword—he called on the power of nature itself. All the cold in the Extreme North surged into him.
Even the approaching Ice and Snow Empress trembled in fear.
"Such immense power! He's using the cold to form sword qi. If it falls, it'll freeze thousands of miles!" Snow Empress exclaimed.
She'd never heard of such a terrifying sword technique. Even the legendary Sword God couldn't have created this.
In truth, Tianlin's move was far from complete, but against Tang Hao, it was enough.
"Wait, Xiao Tian, don't kill Tang Hao—he's my gift for Ice Empress!" the Skydream Iceworm shouted urgently. It had seen Tianlin secretly practice this move before.
Even as a half-finished technique, Tianlin could unleash power on par with a level 97 Title Douluo's eighth soul skill—Tang Hao wouldn't survive.
"Sorry, Skydream, I got carried away," Tianlin said sheepishly, dissipating the sword aura. He'd promised to leave Tang Hao to the soul beasts, and he would keep his word.
Seeing the Heavenly Sword fade, Tang Hao breathed a sigh of relief. "So it was all bluff. I knew it—a Soul Sage using Title Douluo-level power is already a miracle. To reach Super Douluo level with just swordsmanship is fantasy."
Tianlin smiled faintly at him. "You seem to think you've escaped death. But I'm just saving you for those who deserve to kill you. They'll be here in less than two minutes. For now, let me have some fun."
With that, Tianlin teleported at Tang Hao. Tang Hao, thinking little of it, suddenly saw Tianlin's body flash with light and his speed soar. Before he could react, he was punched in the abdomen.
"How is this possible? I couldn't react!" Tang Hao roared in disbelief, swinging the Clear Sky Hammer at Tianlin's head.
He'd killed Oslo this way before.
Tianlin defended the same way Oslo had—crossing his arms over his head. But this time, the result was completely different.
With a clang, Tianlin was unharmed, while Tang Hao was bounced away by the recoil, coughing up blood—his old injuries flaring up again.
Only then did he realize Tianlin was now wearing a suit of armor, missing only the chest and left leg pieces, making it look odd.
"This… is Soul Bone Fusion Skill, the Soul Bone Armor!"
Tang Hao's eyes widened. He'd heard the legends—it took all six soul bones from the same beast, with only a one in a thousand chance to create this miracle. Only Spirit Hall, with the six Angel Soul Bones, could hope to achieve it.
He never imagined he'd see it on a Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect member. Even more shocking, Tianlin only had four soul bones—no torso or left leg pieces, yet he'd achieved it.
He didn't know that this miracle was supposed to belong to Tang San, but after his son's death at the hands of Tianlin's Demon Sword, all his luck had transferred to Tianlin.
"Tang Hao, my Soul Bone Armor can only last so long, so don't waste it. You'll be the first to experience its power." Tianlin didn't waste words, launching another fierce attack.
With the Soul Bone Armor, Tianlin's physical strength far surpassed Tang Hao's Super Douluo level. Even without his sword, he could withstand the Clear Sky Hammer with his body alone.
On the other hand, each punch or kick from Tianlin nearly broke Tang Hao's bones. Fortunately, Tang Hao also had six soul bones, or he'd have been crippled.
"This is too much fun! Beating people up without using martial souls feels great!" Tianlin laughed.
"Wow! Sword Brother is so powerful with the Soul Bone Armor!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed. Clearly, the power rankings of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect needed revising.
Originally, Chen Xin was first and Gu Rong second, but now Tianlin should be second.
After all, besides his own strength, Tianlin could also summon the God of War and Mountain God—three times the power of a Super Douluo in a short burst.