Qian Daoliu tore through the sky like a golden comet, the clouds around him scattering in concentric ripples of light. His expression was grim, each breath laden with worry as the wind howled past his ears. The Peerless Douluo had never before had his heart felt so heavy.
He was moving toward the tavern where Qian Renxue was last known to be present with Ren Xuan, a man who was a Ultimate Douluo.
Just half an hour ago, the Elder Hall had descended into chaos.
The great doors had burst open with a thunderous crash, and a figure stumbled in exhausted—Ci Xue, his body trembling. In his arms, he carried She Long, the man's breathing shallow, as her was very heavily injured.
Before anyone could even react, Ci Xue collapsed to his knees, his voice hoarse and desperate:
"Young Master is in danger! Great Worshiper—save her!"
Those words had struck Qian Daoliu like lightning.
He had stopped only long enough to demand details, his sharp voice echoing through the hall. Ci Xue had managed to choke out fragments of what had happened: a mysterious man appearing near the tavern for Qian Renxue, a battle breaking out, Qian Renxue facing him alone… and the man's power—an existence far beyond a typical Titled Douluo.
In an instant, the divine light of his six golden wings had filled the hall, shattering the tiles beneath his feet as he shot forward. But even as he took to the sky, his heart remained knotted in dread.
Every word only deepened Qian Daoliu's terror.
"Ren Xuan…"The name lingered in his mind like a curse.
Ren Xuan was not just any soul master. He had already reached the level of Ultimate Douluo years ago—and even then, rumors suggested he had surpassed the limits of mortals. The mere thought that such a being had suddenly appeared, and that his target was Qian Renxue, made Qian Daoliu's wings tremble with fury and fear.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, flying behind him, tried to maintain the same speed but was already straining. His deep voice rumbled like thunder, "Elder Brother… believe in Renxue. She's not the same child from before. Nothing will happen to her."
But even as he said it, his tone betrayed uncertainty. The old crocodile's eyes flickered with the same worry he tried to hide.
Qian Daoliu clenched his fists tightly, as his mind replayed every moment that had led to this.
It was he who had encouraged her to accept this mission, despite her reluctance. He had persuaded her that the Spirit Hall needed her to take the undercover mission, not just for the Angel God's Trial.
Now, the thought that he might have sent his granddaughter into the jaws of death made his heart twist painfully.
"Renxue… please be safe."
His aura surged with emotion, the golden light around him as the Great Worshiper of Spirit Hall poured every ounce of his energy into speed.
Behind him, Golden Crocodile Douluo could only follow, teeth clenched, muttering prayers under his breath.
It didn't take long for the two beings standing at the absolute peak of the Douluo Continent to arrive at the location.The moment they descended, both men halted midair—speechless.
The entire region was unrecognizable.
Where once stood a bustling roadside tavern surrounded by old trees and stone paths, there now lay a landscape of utter ruin.The ground was scorched black, deep fissures ran through the earth, and countless boulders were cleaved cleanly in half—as though by the swing of a celestial blade.Trees had been uprooted and vaporized into ash.The very air still quivered with the remnants of two overwhelming auras.
Golden Crocodile Douluo's throat tightened as he scanned the area. "Elder Brother… what kind of battle could cause this?"
Qian Daoliu did not answer. His sharp gaze swept across the destruction. His senses stretched out, but the lingering spiritual interference was so intense that even he couldn't discern what had truly transpired.
Then Golden Crocodile's eyes widened. He pointed toward a narrow path where a small stream trickled between cracked stones."Elder Brother—look there. Blood… there's blood flowing in the stream."
Qian Daoliu moved instantly.He knelt by the bank, his golden aura illuminating the dark crimson streak weaving through the water. The blood hadn't yet diluted—fresh, vibrant, and strangely heavy with power.It flowed from upstream.
The two Ultimate Douluos exchanged a silent glance before following the stream upward, their boots echoing softly against the ruined earth.
The further they walked, the more uneasy Golden Crocodile felt. The forest seemed unnaturally still. No wind, no birds, not even the sound of insects—only the faint ripple of the stream and the metallic scent of blood filling the air.
And then—they saw her.
A slender figure stood by the water's edge, her long blonde hair catching the late sunlight, glowing faintly with a divine sheen.She was calmly washing her hands, the crimson liquid spiraling down the current.
But it wasn't the sight of the girl that made the two Ultimate Douluos freeze—it was what lay behind her.
A body.
A man's corpse was impaled high against the cliff face, his head skewered through by a sword that still hummed faintly with lingering power.The stone around the impact point had melted into smooth glass.Even from a distance, the aura clinging to the weapon was unmistakable.
Qian Daoliu's pupils contracted.
"That sword… the Xuan Yuan Sword…"
The legendary martial soul belonging to Ren Xuan—was nailed into the cliff like a grotesque ornament.The corpse it impaled was motionless, eyes hollow, a faint trace of madness frozen forever on his face.
For a brief moment, Qian Daoliu could only stare, disbelief crashing over him in waves.
'Ren Xuan… dead?''But who could kill a Level 99 Ultimate Douluo with such brutality?'
Golden Crocodile Douluo instinctively took a half-step back, the primal part of his spirit warning him not to approach.
Qian Daoliu's aura flickered, and he finally found his voice.
"Renxue…?"
The girl by the stream slowly lifted her head. Her expression was calm, almost serene. The sunlight reflected in her golden hair, yet her eyes—those deep purple eyes—seemed to carry unfathomable depth.
Seeing them, even Qian Daoliu felt his chest tighten. Qian Renxue blinked once, her tone soft yet oddly distant, as if she was acting surprised.
"Grandfather… you're here already?"