First Encounter

Inside Notting College.

Grandmaster raised a hand and ruffled Tang San's hair. "Gifted with extraordinary talent and so intelligent as well... It seems I must be persistent for once too. After all, you're the third person in the past hundred years to possess Twin Martial Souls."

Tang San was greatly shocked by Grandmaster's words. The way he looked at Grandmaster immediately changed, and his left wrist quietly rose as uncertainty and suspicion appeared in his eyes.

Ahead of them, Dugu Chen watched this with an odd expression. He had just arrived and already witnessed such a classic scene. But was it really okay for "Grandmaster" to announce in public that Tang San possessed Twin Martial Souls?

"Twin Martial Souls?!" Dugu Yan, who had come along with him, cried out in shock. Covering her mouth with a small hand, she stared incredulously at the utterly ordinary-looking Tang San.

Tang San's gaze gradually calmed, and he argued, "There are exceptions to everything. Why can't I be one?"

If "Grandmaster" failed to give him an explanation, things might turn ugly.

Then Dugu Chen watched as "Grandmaster" talked a great deal of nonsense, and Tang San ended up kneeling at "Grandmaster's" feet as his disciple.

"Grandmaster" was very satisfied with this disciple. This was his hope of turning his life around! Pulling Tang San along, he was about to register when he turned and spotted Dugu Chen and Dugu Yan not far away.

His expression stiffened slightly. Of course, with that ten-thousand-year poker face of his, no one could tell.

Walking closer, "Grandmaster" looked at the two elegantly dressed, extraordinary youths before him. They clearly were not children from ordinary families.

"Grandmaster's" face was stiff as he asked in a hoarse voice, "Who are you? Did you hear what we just said?"

Looking at the utterly ordinary Yu Xiaogang before him, Dugu Chen could not see a single thing about him that might attract Bibi Dong. He could only sigh that the women of Douluo Continent had something wrong with their heads.

Dugu Chen did not answer "Grandmaster's" question. Instead, he looked the master and disciple up and down.

Dugu Yan hugged Dugu Chen from behind, resting her head on his shoulder as she lazily said, "You said it so loudly without even trying to hide it. We aren't deaf, so of course we heard it."

Both master and disciple changed expression upon hearing that. Tang San's left wrist rose again. The secret of his Twin Martial Souls absolutely could not be exposed.

Seeing their reactions, Dugu Chen calmly said to Tang San, "You'd better stop those little movements, or I can't guarantee the safety of you and your master." His voice carried the aura of Sovereign's Descent.

Tang San and his master both looked somewhat dazed. They suddenly felt incomparably small, while Dugu Chen before them became immensely tall, as invincible as a god.

As though struck by a heavy blow, the two staggered backward several steps. Tang San had Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track and managed to steady himself, but "Grandmaster" fell flat on his backside in a miserable heap, staring at Dugu Chen in horror as he cried out.

"You..."

Dugu Chen's display made them realize he was someone they could not defeat, and they immediately did not dare utter another word.

Dugu Chen was somewhat disappointed. He was already far too far ahead of Tang San. Tang San no longer posed any threat to him.

"Actually, your Blue Silver Grass isn't an ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Martial Souls can only be twins if their qualities are close enough. Your teacher merely got lucky this time."

Dugu Chen left with Dugu Yan. The purpose of this trip had already been fulfilled, and it was time for them to return. But before leaving, Dugu Chen did not forget to drive a wedge between master and disciple.

At this moment, Tang San's eyes were filled with suspicion as he looked at Yu Xiaogang. The seed of doubt had been planted; all that remained was to see what fruit it would bear.

On the way back to the hotel, Dugu Yan kept complaining to Dugu Chen about the two of them. Tang San was vicious and scheming despite his young age; Yu Xiaogang was weak but put on great airs. In short, her junior brother was still the best—talented and without any airs.

At the hotel, Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo about everything they had just seen. Dugu Bo was also somewhat surprised. There was actually such a genius in this little place.

But his own disciple was no worse. Dugu Bo promptly tossed Tang San to the back of his mind. Looking at his disciple and granddaughter before him, Dugu Bo's eyes were filled with warmth.

Just as the three happily chatted about everyday matters, a subtle spiritual fluctuation arrived. Dugu Bo's face turned grave. After saying a word, he flashed out the door.

"Junior brother, where is Grandpa going?" Dugu Yan asked in confusion.

"Don't worry, Senior Sister. With Teacher's current cultivation, very few people can hurt him. Teacher will be back soon," Dugu Chen said calmly.

The only person here who could make Dugu Bo reveal such a grave expression was Tang Hao. But Dugu Chen was not worried at all. Tang Hao was injured and could not fight at full strength. Besides, it was uncertain whether he was even Level 95 now. He could do nothing to Dugu Bo.

In a forest outside the city, Dugu Bo looked at the pitch-black surroundings and shouted in a deep voice.

"Come out. You lured this old man here—are you still going to keep hiding like a coward?"

A black figure slowly emerged from behind a large tree. This person was entirely shrouded in black, even wearing a black hood over his head. From his appearance, one could only tell that he was a tall man.

"Who are you?" Dugu Bo asked in a deep voice.

The man removed his hood, revealing a weathered face.

"You are... Tang Hao?!" Dugu Bo hesitantly asked as he looked at the dispirited man before him.

"That Tang San is your son." Upon seeing Tang Hao, Dugu Bo immediately understood whose son Tang San was. No wonder a genius with Twin Martial Souls had appeared in such a small place.

"It's me. Dugu Bo, I do not want the secret of Little San's Martial Soul to be leaked," Tang Hao said indifferently.

"You are ordering this old man?" Dugu Bo's aura surged directly toward Tang Hao.

"So what if I am?" Tang Hao did not take Dugu Bo seriously at all. If Dugu Bo refused, then he could only leave all three of them here today. Not a trace of Tang San's information could be leaked. He was Tang Hao's hope for revenge.

"Good! Today, this old man will witness the power of the world's number one Tool Martial Soul."

Dugu Bo was so furious that his rage soared. He immediately activated Martial Soul Possession. At this moment, his Martial Soul had undergone slight changes. A pair of horns had grown from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's head, four bulges appeared along its belly, and the scales covering its body had become even broader. Two yellow, two purple, and five black soul rings—nine in total—pulsed around him.

After controlling the toxins over the past three years, Dugu Bo had consumed that Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor had begun showing signs of transforming into a dragon, though it had not completely succeeded. Still, his overall strength had increased by an unknown amount compared to before.

Tang Hao was somewhat surprised to see how much Dugu Bo had changed, but he was not worried in the slightest. He had absolute confidence in himself. Slowly raising his right hand, black light gathered in his palm and formed into a massive weapon. At the same time, nine soul rings quietly appeared around him as well.

Although the ninth soul ring was a sinister blood-red, its aura was not much stronger than Dugu Bo's.

Though Dugu Bo was startled by Tang Hao's ninth soul ring, he remained calm.

His first seven soul rings lit up at once. Then, within that jade light, his tall, thin body continuously expanded and soared upward.

Dugu Bo unleashed his Martial Soul Avatar, transforming into an enormous emerald-green serpent over fifty meters long and as thick as a water vat.

As Tang Hao watched Dugu Bo use his Martial Soul Avatar, his seventh soul ring lit up as well. Immediately afterward, a dark-red field suddenly spread outward.

Divine Slaughter's Domain!

After briefly suppressing Dugu Bo for an instant, Tang Hao's first three soul rings lit up in succession. He swung the Clear Sky Hammer and smashed it down, his face brimming with tyrannical dominance.

Dugu Bo quickly broke free of the suppression. Facing the incoming Clear Sky Hammer, his massive tail whistled through the air as it swept up to meet it.

Boom!

A thunderous air-shattering blast rang out, instantly destroying more than half the surrounding trees.

Dugu Bo shook his tail, feeling a numbing tremor spread through it. He had gained a new understanding of the power behind Tang Hao's hammer.

He absolutely could not take it head-on!

Tang Hao also felt a faint numbness in his arm and looked at Dugu Bo in surprise.

"You've broken through to Level 95!" There was faint astonishment in his voice. After all, he himself had only just broken through to Level 94.

"What, this old man isn't allowed to break through to Level 95?" Dugu Bo mocked.

Tang Hao snorted coldly, twisting his body slightly before bringing down another hammer strike. Its might was even stronger than the previous blow!

It was precisely the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!

As he dealt with Tang Hao's assault, Dugu Bo grew increasingly stifled. Most of his soul skills were wide-area attacks and could not be used freely, or Nuoding City would be finished. Meanwhile, Tang Hao's hammer techniques were overwhelmingly domineering. Although his Martial Soul had evolved and he was a level higher than Tang Hao, he was still somewhat restrained.

"Enough! Tang Hao!"

Dugu Bo activated his Eighth Soul Skill: Time Condensation! Immediately afterward, two ghastly white rays shot from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's eyes, which had turned white, and flew straight toward Tang Hao.

Dugu Bo's Soul Bone and eighth soul ring came from the same Soul Beast. Used together now, they instantly immobilized Tang Hao in midair.

Seizing the opportunity, Dugu Bo's final soul ring lit up.

Ninth Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Divine Light

Watching the Ninth Soul Skill rush toward him, Tang Hao did not panic in the slightest. With a loud shout, his first two yellow soul rings abruptly exploded.

It was the Tang family's inherited technique: Exploding Ring!

Boom!

Violent Soul Power erupted and raged through Tang Hao's body, striking at the hidden injuries suppressed by his six Soul Bones.

At the same time, he almost instantly broke free of Dugu Bo's soul skill.

He swung the Clear Sky Hammer and collided with Dugu Bo's Ninth Soul Skill.

An even fiercer explosion erupted, and the surrounding area had already been razed flat.

"Damn it."

Forcibly swallowing the blood rising in his throat, Tang Hao sensed the Soul Power rampaging within his body and cursed inwardly before turning to leave.

If they kept fighting, it was uncertain whether Dugu Bo would die, but he would no longer be able to suppress his internal injuries. By then, he likely would not have many days left to live. He had yet to avenge himself against Spirit Hall, so he could not die.

As the smoke and dust dispersed, Dugu Bo also released his Martial Soul Avatar. Watching Tang Hao flee, he did not pursue him. Tang Hao's display had surprised him, especially that final move. He had never seen such a soul skill before and was not confident he could defeat Tang Hao.

"Hmph!!!"

With a cold snort, Dugu Bo turned and returned to the hotel. They could not stay in Nuoding City any longer. Such a huge commotion would surely alert many people; it was better to leave overnight!

Seeing Dugu Bo return safely, Dugu Chen finally relaxed. He had heard the massive commotion just now. Although he had faith in Dugu Bo, he could not help worrying.

Late that night, a carriage left Nuoding City. Over the next few days, Nuoding City would become the center of a vortex.