Qian Daoliu chuckled dryly, stroking his chin as if stroking an old scar. "Hah… the library? That heap of papers is for scholars and priests, not for those who stand at the peak of power. You won't find the truth of the Ultimate Douluo hidden in dusty books."
He leaned forward, his expression solemn now. "Very well, Renxue. Since you insist, I'll tell you. Remember this: the title 'Ultimate Douluo' is not merely given to any Titled Douluo, no matter how strong. It belongs only to those who have pushed themselves beyond the ordinary limits of humanity… those who can shake the world with their existence alone. By Soul power Level they are Level 99"
Qian Renxue looked at him as if to continue speaking, so Qian Daoliu cleared his throat before narrating.
"There must be a little information regarding Tang Chen in there. But let me tell you about him more."
His eyes became distant, as though gazing back into a time long past.
"I knew Tang Chen from my youth. He was a headstrong man who would never back down. While he was a member of the Clear Sky Clan, we had a good friendship. He was… fearless to the point of recklessness. No matter the opponent, he would face them head-on, even if it meant staking his life on the line."
Qian Daoliu's voice grew heavier. "He was a genius, and with his talent he created two legendary moves. The first was the 'Clear Sky Nine Absolutes,' a set of nine distinct methods for wielding the Clear Sky Hammer, specifically crafted for direct frontal combat. Each move built upon the next, and in his hands, that hammer was like a mountain crashing down. Even the strongest titled Douluos would falter before it."
Then Qian Daoliu sighed, his chest rising and falling as memories tugged at him.
"The second technique he developed…was far more terrifying."
His tone grew solemn, filled with both awe and regret. "It was a life-risking, final-effort ability of the Clear Sky Hammer that unleashes a spirit ring's full power for a single strike. The name given to it was the Exploding Ring Technique. Each spirit ring can only perform this once, and the user can even detonate multiple rings in succession, combining their might into a force that far surpasses any single spirit ring's power. But…"
He shook his head slowly. "The cost is immense. After using it, the user's foundation becomes fragile, their spirit weakened, their very essence trembling on the edge of collapse. It is a technique where one trades tomorrow for today's victory."
Qian Daoliu paused, closing his eyes for a brief moment as if remembering the sight of Tang Chen in battle.
His lips tightened. "This technique is what made Tang Chen truly dangerous. Even those stronger than him would hesitate. He carried the kind of madness that made others fear to fight him head-on."
For a long moment, silence filled the room.
Qian Renxue rested her chin on her palm, thoughtful. Her golden eyes flickered with calculation as she muttered inwardly:
'Well, although I already know about this, it truly is a frightening move. A technique like this gives a brute warrior the ability to claw at the heavens, even when facing superior foes.'
' But in essence… it is like hurting yourself eight hundred to hurt your enemy a thousand. A desperate gamble. A reckless method. Yet… sometimes desperation changes the tides of history.'
She glanced at her grandfather again, noticing the faint heaviness in his expression. He wasn't just recounting the glory of Tang Chen—there was also a trace of melancholy and respect.
Qian Daoliu came out of his nostalgia fast enough and started telling about the next person.
"Bo Saixi is also a level 99 Ultimate Douluo. She, too, was a High Priest, but unlike me, the object of her devotion was the Sea God—Poseidon."
As his voice lowered, a distant gleam passed through his eyes, as if the sound of waves and the scent of salt still lingered in his memory.
"When I first saw her… I truly fell in love with her. Tang Chen and I even fought, just for the chance to pursue her."
When he said this, his expression darkened. The corners of his lips twitched downward, weighed with old regret.
Qian Renxue tilted her head, purple eyes blinking in mock innocence.
'The fight you then lost. Now I understand, Grandfather—you were just a simp. But honestly… I don't have any interest in listening to your failed love story.'
However, she smiled sweetly, while questioning in a loud voice
"Grandfather, what were her abilities?"
The abrupt shift in topic snapped Qian Daoliu out of his daydream. A faint flush crept across his old but dignified face. He coughed lightly to cover up his embarrassment.
"Cough… Cough… Bo Saixi, as the High Priest of the Sea God Temple, bore a divine spirit as her martial soul—Sea God. Within the ocean, her strength was doubled. Even Tang Chen and I, in our primes, could not match her in her domain. She was the true sovereign of the sea."
He paused, and his voice softened, almost reverent.
"When she appeared for the first time, rising through the waves in her flowing blue robes, it was as if the ocean itself moved. Both Tang Chen and I were smitten beyond reason."
Qian Renxue wrinkled her nose.
"Ewww…" she muttered under her breath, her lips twitching into an exaggerated pout.
Qian Daoliu froze, catching her expression. His stern old eyes narrowed ever so slightly, but he chose not to rebuke her. Instead, he coughed again—
"Cough, cough, cough…" pretending it was nothing but his age showing.