"What kind of armor is this?"
Faced with the overwhelming pressure that struck his soul, Tang Xiao's eyes were filled with shock. The mere aura it emitted made him tremble with fear.
Although he didn't know the armor's exact abilities, it was undoubtedly stronger than the one Lin Mu had used before.
Confronted with such a formidable enemy, Tang Xiao no longer concerned himself with Tang Hao's imminent death. He quickly formed a formation with the other four elders, preparing to counter Lin Mu's attack.
Although the Seventh Elder had been rescued by the Second Elder, he was already severely injured and unable to continue fighting.
"So this is the power of Thunder Atlas Armor."
Lin Mu did not rush to attack. Instead, he calmly felt the power of this ultimate armor. Not only could he freely wield the powers of the previous four elements, but he also commanded an even stronger lightning element.
Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul would be unable to withstand the lightning power of Thunder Atlas Armor.
Meanwhile, Tang Hao had already been struck by a hidden weapon. The poison was rapidly spreading throughout his body. He had already been on the verge of death, and his condition had worsened even further.
The only reason he was barely clinging to life was the support of the four soul bones within his body.
"Brother Hao!"
Seeing Tang Hao's miserable state, Tang Xiao's pupils constricted in shock.
Although Tang Hao had indirectly caused the deaths of their father and many sect disciples, he was still his brother.
If Tang Hao had died at the hands of Spirit Hall, that would have been one thing. But dying at the hands of his own son was something Tang Xiao simply could not accept.
Regardless of the truth, now that his Brother Hao had fallen to such a state, as the eldest brother, he had to avenge him.
"Second Elder, form the Clear Sky Formation!"
Upon hearing Tang Xiao's command, the Second Elder immediately joined forces with the others, channeling their soul power into Tang Xiao.
At that moment, Tang Xiao condensed the soul power of five Title Douluo into one body, reaching soul power comparable to Level 98.
"It's nothing more than a mayfly trying to shake a tree. To deal with you, I don't even need to use my soul rings."
As soon as he finished speaking, a golden longsword appeared in Lin Mu's hand. Its entire blade was formed from condensed lightning, with arcs of electricity flickering across its surface, the Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth.
Seeing this, Tang Xiao immediately unleashed the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, smashing the enormous Clear Sky Hammer down toward Lin Mu.
In this state, the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes possessed power comparable to the ninth soul skill of a Level 98 Super Douluo.
However, Lin Mu remained calm. He pressed the Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth against the Molten Flame Elemental Emblem on his chest, instantly condensing a blazing slash, which he swung upward toward the descending Clear Sky Hammer.
BOOM!!
Accompanied by a surging heatwave, a massive explosion forced Tang Xiao backward several steps, while Lin Mu remained completely motionless.
"How is this possible?!"
"This is our Clear Sky Sect's ultimate technique, and he neutralized it so easily?"
Tang Xiao and the four elders were stunned. Even a Level 98 Title Douluo would have been injured by that attack, yet Lin Mu blocked it with a single casual strike.
Could it be that Lin Mu had already reached the level of a Limit Douluo?
With no time to hesitate, Tang Xiao suppressed his doubts and once again unleashed the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes.
Unlike before, he gave Lin Mu no pause, continuously swinging the Clear Sky Hammer in relentless succession.
Yet Lin Mu still blocked every attack with ease, appearing completely unburdened. The sight severely undermined Tang Xiao and the elders' confidence.
They were fighting with everything they had, yet Lin Mu treated them as though they were nothing more than a whetstone to sharpen himself against.
At this moment, the four elders began to waver.
They already harbored resentment toward Tang Hao, and now they had once again been dragged into danger because of him. Why should they risk their lives for a sect outcast?
More importantly, if anything were to happen to them, the Clear Sky Sect's strength would plummet.
If Spirit Hall came seeking revenge again, the sect would have no means of resistance. For the sake of the sect's future, they absolutely could not fight to the death here.
Just as Tang Xiao prepared to launch another attack, the Second Elder deliberately withdrew from the formation.
The moment the formation collapsed, Tang Xiao's strength dropped drastically. Unable to withstand Lin Mu's next strike, he was sent flying along with his Clear Sky Hammer.
He crashed heavily onto the ground and rolled several times before finally coming to a stop.
After a moment, Tang Xiao struggled to his feet and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
He glared at the Second Elder and demanded, "Second Elder, why did you do that?!"
"Sect Master, everything I did was for the sect."
The Second Elder remained calm and resolute.
"Even the five of us combined couldn't defeat him. Continuing this fight will only lead to greater disaster. They're just two soul bones, they're not worth it."
The other three elders nodded in agreement. Their original purpose in coming here was to retrieve the two soul bones, not to avenge Tang Hao.
But now it was clear that retrieving them was impossible. Preserving their own strength was far more important.
"Pfft—"
Seeing their attitude, Tang Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood in fury. Though he knew Tang Hao had been in the wrong, he had never expected the elders to be so cold-hearted.
From a certain perspective, this could be considered karmic retribution.
The Second Elder then turned to Lin Mu, his tone slightly pleading.
"Lin Mu, you may do as you wish with Tang Hao and the two soul bones. From now on, we will stay out of each other's affairs."
"It's a bit late to say that now. I preferred your earlier arrogance."
Lin Mu clearly had no intention of letting them off so easily.
He hadn't even used his full strength earlier, yet Tang Hao still dared to come here, even bringing reinforcements.
If he let them go this time, they might dare to return again. He had arrived in time today, but there was no guarantee he would next time.
Seeing that Lin Mu would not relent, the Second Elder's expression darkened.
"We are willing to apologize."
"Enough talk. Either cripple your cultivation yourselves, or I'll beat you down and cripple it for you."
With that, Lin Mu stepped forward, Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth in hand.
The four elders panicked.
If all of their cultivation were crippled, the Clear Sky Sect would decline drastically, leaving them completely vulnerable to Spirit Hall.
"Lin Mu, don't you think this is too cruel?"
The Second Elder tried once more.
Lin Mu responded by directly pointing the Thunder Sword of Heaven and Earth at him, releasing a surge of lightning.
The powerful current instantly silenced him, his eyes rolling back from the shock.
Seeing their Second Brother twitching on the ground, the remaining three elders trembled in fear.
"Lin Mu, this was all Tang Hao's doing!"
"Even if you beg me, I won't let you go."