Douluo: Qian Xunji's Joyful Life

Chapter 55: Tang Hao Goes Mad

A week later, an explosive piece of news shook the entire continent's top-tier powers: Pope Qian Xunji was getting married. One by one, invitations arrived in the hands of major forces that had at least a Soul Douluo among them.

In past generations, whenever a member of the Qian family married, they typically held a small ceremony for their own kin and ended it swiftly, since the pair's ages were usually far apart and the marriage existed simply to produce heirs, lacking any true affection. But now, with Qian Xunji's first formal wedding invitation, the entire continent took note. The reason lay in that ten-thousand-year spirit ring Qian Xunji displayed in the Seven Great Sects' re-selection, as well as his Titled Douluo status.

At only 43, he had become a Titled Douluo, recognized as the youngest on the continent, fueling many families and sects to curry favor with the Pope—someone of seemingly limitless potential.

In truth, Qian Xunji himself had no idea how meticulously the Qian family had recorded his achievements, or that the entire continent regarded him so highly because they'd calculated precisely the age at which he'd reached Titled Douluo. Tang Hao's fierce cultivation was also partly driven by his resolve to surpass Qian Xunji's record.

Whenever a major power had an event—like the Haotian Clan's clan master celebrating a birthday—the top-tier forces usually sent gifts in recognition of their status as the number-one clan. This time, official invitations were issued, so every sect was sure to give face by presenting lavish gifts. It was a way to show off one's strength and deep resources.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan: Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo prepared sumptuous offerings and set off. Though, behind the scenes, Ning Fengzhi often schemed and backstabbed, he was outwardly as courteous as anyone in the soul master world. Furthermore, he brought Bibi Dong and Yu Xiaogang along, aiming to show Yu Xiaogang firsthand what differences in "level" really looked like.Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan: The second steward, Yu Luomian, served as their representative.Heaven Dou Empire: Prince Xue Xing attended.Other top clans matching the top three in rank mostly sent second-in-command figures, since each sect leader or strongest fighter usually needed to remain behind. There was one exception: Star Luo Empire dispatched a high-ranking minister akin to a grand chancellor, since the Dai family was caught in ferocious internal strife—brothers killing or crippling each other, exiling rivals to the borders.

Haotian Clan.

Tang Xiao held a red wedding invitation in his trembling hands. His eyes widened, staring at two gold-embossed names: "Qian Xunji and A... Yin...?!"

Impossible—this had to be a coincidence, mere shared names! His sworn sister Ah Yin couldn't possibly be marrying Qian Xunji, that scoundrel.

Tang Xiao repeatedly warned himself it was just a coincidence. His sister would never join Qian Xunji or go against the Haotian Clan. He refused to believe it.

"Father… that name on the invitation—are you sure it's not just someone else sharing Ah Yin's name?"

His voice shook. If the "Ah Yin" he knew had truly ended up with Qian Xunji, it would be like stabbing him through the heart with a razor-sharp blade, even if he had lost her to Tang Hao. This was a thousand times worse.

Tang Zhen frowned. "I can't be certain. But according to the Hall's spies, Qian Xunji returned two months ago with a blue-haired woman in a long blue dress, said to be as beautiful as a fairy—rivaling the looks of Bibi Dong from Seven Treasure Glazed Tile."

It was common knowledge that the top clans infiltrated each other. Spies in the Wuhun Hall had swiftly reported that two months prior, Qian Xunji had come back with a woman in blue. Over these past eight weeks, many palace guards in the Pope's Hall had witnessed her strolling about, friendly and lacking airs. That gossip was easily passed around.

Tang Xiao, an 88th-ranked Contra, nearly collapsed. A woman in a blue dress, her beauty on par with Bibi Dong, with long, azure hair—who else but Ah Yin? She was the Blue Silver Emperor, having spent a hundred thousand years in a blue-silver domain, favoring blue in all things.

Tang Zhen sighed at the look on Tang Xiao's face. "See, a beast is a beast. Don't expect her to do us any favors."

"Father! Ah Yin isn't like that!" Tang Xiao refuted, emotional.

Tang Zhen said, "Don't let Hao'er know of this. I fear his hot temper might lead him to do something foolish."

At that, the equally hotheaded Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, spoke up. "Clan Master, Qian Xunji is consorting with a soul beast. Perhaps we can spread the story, turn the entire soul master world against the Wuhun Hall?"

"We mustn't!" Tang Zhen shouted. His excitement aggravated an old injury, causing him to cough. "Elder Seven, aside from the Wuhun Hall, only our Haotian Clan truly knows that woman's a shapeshifted soul beast. If we reveal it, the Hall will target our clan first.

"My health is failing. I can only fight once more. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao and Tang Hao aren't Titled Douluo yet; the so-called 'unity' of the top three sects still isn't enough to match Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji.

"So we must avoid clashing with them now. When Tang Xiao and Tang Hao break into Titled Douluo, let's see how arrogant the Hall can remain."

"Understood, Clan Master."

The Haotian elders nodded, some remarking in frustration, "If only Old Clan Master were here…"

They all knew that if Tang Chen were present, he would spearhead a crusade against the Wuhun Hall for "consorting with soul beasts and betraying mankind," overthrowing them altogether.

"Bad news, Clan Master! It's the Young Master—he's—"

Titan, from the Strength Clan, barged in urgently.

"What's wrong with Hao'er?"

"He learned Qian Xunji's marriage news and went crazy!"

Tang Zhen clutched his chest, nearly coughing up blood. "Who told him?!"

Tang Xiao glanced around. "Where is Yuehua? Where did she go?"

To tell Tang Hao, it had to be Tang Yuehua. Upon discovering that Tang Hao had someone he liked, she had fallen into quiet sorrow, skipping out on her lessons at Moon Pavilion for a week, crying herself to sleep every night.

Though she knew they were siblings, Tang Yuehua couldn't help falling for the man who'd long protected her: the Haotian Clan's most outstanding warrior, champion of the Seven Great Sects re-selection, who overcame Titled Douluo with unstoppable might—the dream of countless clan members. After living together for two years at Moon Pavilion, steadily subduing his killing aura, she was deeply captivated by him.

If she couldn't be with Tang Hao, she didn't want him to be with anyone else. And hearing that Ah Yin would marry Qian Xunji—Tang Yuehua had rushed to tell Tang Hao, spicing the tale up with how "deeply in love" Qian Xunji and Ah Yin were.

Tang Hao, hearing all that, felt a shimmering green over his head, as though all his furious cultivation in the past year was a mockery of his vow to become an Extreme Douluo in forty years. Unable to bear it, he took his Clear Sky Hammer and unleashed his frenzy.

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