Douluo; Zhongli Adventures in Mortal World with Paimon

"Tang Hao, without the inheritance of the Clear Sky Clan, what are you really?"

Du Bafang delivered this stinging remark without hesitation, pressing forward with unrelenting boldness.

It was precisely this sense of superiority that disciples from great sects felt over civilian soul masters. They looked down upon civilian soul masters because they lacked the inheritance passed down from previous generations.

Even if a civilian soul master showed extraordinary talent, it was often dismissed as a fleeting moment of brilliance.

How could the effort of one individual compare to the collective efforts of several or even dozens of generations?

This attitude was the foundation for why large clans, powerful forces, and nobles held civilians and self-made individuals in disdain.

Take Qin Ming, for example, when he casually stated, "I will kill Yufeng."

Yufeng was a noble descendant. Although not from the most prestigious noble families, his lineage was ancient, and his family had Soul Sage-level experts to protect it.

Moreover, Yufeng's strength came not only from himself but from his family as a whole. To deal with a civilian-born Qin Ming was merely a matter of lifting a finger.

The Body Sect might have been considered "new money," but thanks to the "legacy" left behind by Zhongli, it was now flourishing rapidly.

If the Body Sect had possessed such a foundation earlier, would the Clear Sky Clan, without Tang Chen, have dared to speak to the Body Sect in such a dismissive tone?

As for Tang Hao's supposed genius, he was merely inheriting the knowledge passed down by his ancestors. He had neither created a new technique nor forged his own path.

Without the Clear Sky Clan's inheritance, he was nothing more than an ordinary "Tang Hammer."

Of course, this didn't entirely rule out the possibility that Tang Hao might someday create a powerful self-invented soul skill.

But compared to a true genius like Tang Chen, Tang Hao's reputation could be considered overly inflated.

Learning and creating were two entirely different concepts.

Fortunately, Du Bafang was unaware of how Tang Hao acquired his ninth spirit ring. Otherwise, his criticism would have gone far beyond mere harsh words.

If morality and ethics were brought into the discussion, Du Bafang wouldn't stop at just scolding him face-to-face; he might have even started cursing Tang Hao's ancestors.

Being subjected to such a direct verbal attack, Tang Hao was furious. A white light erupted from the Clear Sky Hammer.

It was the Domain of the Killing God, a hallmark of Tang Hao's heroism.

Over the course of a thousand years, there had been only eight individuals in the Slaughter City who had obtained the title of Killing God. Tang Hao was one of them.

The Domain of the Killing God instantly engulfed Du Bafang, and a faint white "fog" spread across a hundred-meter radius.

This was the embodiment of killing intent. Merely being enveloped in its aura would send chills down the spine of 99% of people.

Those with weaker strength trembled uncontrollably as they backed away from the domain. Fortunately, the domain wasn't specifically targeting them; otherwise, even moving would have been a struggle.

A domain!

This was what the Martial God had spoken of during the day—a domain!

"Du Bafang, you're courting death!"

Tang Hao gritted his teeth, his voice filled with venom.

If not for Zhongli, and if his grandfather Tang Chen were still in the Clear Sky Clan, he wouldn't have even needed to waste words with a mere rank 94 Titled Douluo!

Under the influence of the Domain of the Killing God, Du Bafang felt his overall attributes suppressed by 10%.

This suppression made him slightly uncomfortable.

As for the fear and intimidation typically caused by the domain, it had little to no effect on Du Bafang.

"Flustered and exasperated, are we?"

"I openly admit the gifts I've received from my sect master, yet you refuse to acknowledge that everything you have comes from the Clear Sky Clan."

Du Bafang, a seasoned player, understood well how to strike where it hurt. His words were as sharp as his skills—killing not just the body but also the heart.

Many in the audience wanted to echo Du Bafang's sentiments and criticize Tang Hao. But fear held their tongues.

Just as someone was about to speak up, a brash, inexperienced young man shouted instead.

"Body Douluo!"

At this moment, Tang San's voice rang out:

"My father's achievements today are not solely because of the clan!"

"How can you deny all of my father's efforts just because he was born into the Clear Sky Clan?"

Tang Hao frowned deeply. For him, the clan was indeed incredibly important.

His accomplishments were largely due to the clan's foundation, but his personal efforts had played a significant role as well.

Without dedication and hard work, even the best resources could not help a useless individual succeed.

Hearing this, Du Bafang sneered disdainfully. With so much inheritance at their disposal, as long as one wasn't utterly incompetent, they were bound to achieve something.

The saying, There are no trash martial souls, only trash soul masters,"was nothing more than a joke to him.

With innate soul power no lower than rank 7, coupled with inheritance and a strong background, who wouldn't achieve something meaningful as long as they didn't court disaster?

If effort alone worked, what need would there be for prodigies?

Suddenly, Du Bafang sized up Tang San with narrowed eyes, then glanced at the hundred-thousand-year soul ring on Tang Hao. A realization began to dawn on him, though he couldn't fully articulate it.

Rubbing his chin, Du Bafang's gaze toward Tang Hao and his son changed subtly.

"Tang Hao, how did you get that hundred-thousand-year soul ring?"

"If I'm not mistaken, your son Tang San is the child of the Blue Silver Emperor, a hundred-thousand-year soul beast!"

"Tang San also has a second martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, which proves he is indeed a descendant of the Clear Sky Clan."

Du Bafang hadn't finished his statement when Tang San instinctively took a few steps back, looking at Tang Hao and the hundred-thousand-year soul ring on him with disbelief.

It was primarily because what Du Bafang said made too much sense—it was logical and backed by evidence.

Even though Du Bafang hadn't explicitly accused Tang Hao of killing the hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor…

At this moment, Tang San was still unaware that one way to obtain a soul ring was through a soul beast's sacrifice.

Tang Hao froze. Was Tang San seriously stepping back?

Initially, Tang Hao hadn't realized the full implications of Du Bafang's words. By the time he did, it was already too late.

That hundred-thousand-year soul ring had always been a subject he avoided discussing.

No matter how much he claimed to love Ah Yin, the memory of that soul ring was a wound he didn't want to touch.

If his love for Ah Yin was genuine, it was a scar that would haunt him forever.

If it was merely a means to acquire a hundred-thousand-year soul ring, then it was a truth that could never see the light of day.

If the truth were exposed, Tang Hao would be condemned by all, a target of public scorn.

"Father, about Mother…"

"Tang San! Do you not trust your father?"

Tang Hao roared, his anger barely contained. This was the first time Tang San had doubted him, and it made him extremely uncomfortable.

From the moment Tang San awakened his martial soul, Tang Hao had been "arranging" and "guiding" his growth. Everything had been within his expectations, and Tang San had never disappointed him.

But now, Tang San was beginning to rebel?

Wasn't it enough that he had the Blue Silver Grass martial soul?

But then—oh!—the Clear Sky Hammer, his precious son! (Cue emotional embrace.)

After scolding Tang San, Tang Hao glared fiercely at Du Bafang.

Du Bafang shrugged nonchalantly. "No need to get worked up. I'm a very reasonable person. You can finish your family conversation first… then receive my poison-filled beating!"

Poison-filled beating?

Strangely, it sounded perfectly reasonable. As a poison-type Body Sect soul master, the term "poison beating" was indeed apt.

The crowd: "…"

As expected of the Body Sect's acting leader—elegant, truly elegant!

They hadn't anticipated overhearing such an explosive secret!

Tai Tan glanced at Tang Hao. Once, he might have believed Tang Hao to be a man of loyalty and deep emotion, but reality had proven otherwise.

If it weren't for Tang San nearly dying, would Tang Hao have intervened for the Strength Clan at all?

That hundred-thousand-year soul ring had to have been obtained through despicable means!

Tai Tan was so confident in his judgment that he dared to bet the lives of the 200+ members of his clan: Tang Hao was absolutely that kind of person!