Initial Clash

Inside Notting College.

Grandmaster raised a hand and ruffled Tang San's hair. "Gifted and so clever as well. It seems I must be stubborn for once too. No matter what, you are the third person in the past century to possess Twin Martial Souls."

Tang San was greatly startled by Grandmaster's words. The look in his eyes immediately changed, and his left wrist quietly rose as uncertainty and alarm flickered in his gaze.

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

"Twin Martial Souls?!" Dugu Yan, who had come along with him, cried out. Covering her mouth with one 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 would probably turn ugly.

Then Dugu Chen watched "Grandmaster" talk a stream of nonsense, and Tang San promptly knelt at his feet and became his disciple.

"Grandmaster" was quite satisfied with this disciple. Tang San was his hope for turning things around! He grabbed Tang San to take him for registration, only to turn and spot Dugu Chen and Dugu Yan nearby.

His expression stiffened slightly. Of course, with that eternal poker face of his, it was impossible to tell.

Walking closer, he looked at the two finely dressed children with extraordinary bearing. Clearly, they were not from ordinary families.

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

Looking at the utterly unremarkable Yu Xiaogang before him, Dugu Chen could not see a single thing about him, from head to toe, that could attract Bibi Dong. He could only sigh that the women of Douluo Continent were not quite right in the head.

Dugu Chen did not answer "Grandmaster's" question. Instead, he sized up the master and disciple before him.

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

The faces of both master and disciple changed at once. Tang San's left wrist rose again. The secret of his Twin Martial Souls absolutely could not be exposed.

Seeing their reactions, Dugu Chen spoke calmly to Tang San.

"You'd better stop those little movements. Otherwise, I can't guarantee the safety of you and your master." His voice carried the intent of Sovereign's Descent.

Tang San and his master both looked dazed. They suddenly felt incomparably small, while Dugu Chen before them became extraordinarily towering, like an invincible god.

As though struck by a heavy blow, the two staggered back several steps. Tang San steadied himself with Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, while "Grandmaster" fell onto the ground on his backside in a miserable heap, staring at Dugu Chen in horror as he exclaimed.

"You—"

Dugu Chen's display made them understand that he was someone they could not defeat. They immediately did not dare make another sound.

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

"Actually, your Blue Silver Grass is not ordinary Blue Silver Grass. Martial Souls can only be twins when their qualities are similar. Your teacher merely got lucky this time."

Dugu Chen left with Dugu Yan. The purpose of their trip had already been fulfilled, so it was time to return. Yet before leaving, Dugu Chen did not forget to sow discord between the master and disciple.

At this moment, Tang San's eyes were full of suspicion when he looked at Yu Xiaogang. The seed of doubt had been planted; it only remained to be seen what fruit it would bear.

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

At the hotel, Dugu Yan told Dugu Bo everything she had just seen and heard. Dugu Bo was somewhat surprised as well. There was actually such a genius in this little place.

But his disciple was no worse. Dugu Bo immediately cast Tang San from his mind. Looking at his disciple and granddaughter before him, his eyes were filled with warmth.

Just as the three of them were happily chatting about everyday matters, a faint spiritual fluctuation arrived. Dugu Bo's expression became solemn. He said only one thing before flashing 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. He'll be back soon," Dugu Chen said calmly.

The only person here who could make Dugu Bo look so solemn was Tang Hao. But Dugu Chen truly was not worried. Tang Hao was injured and could not fight at full strength. Besides, it was uncertain whether he had even reached level 95 yet. He could do nothing to Dugu Bo now.

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

"Come out. You lured this old man here, yet you still want to hide like some coward?"

A black figure slowly emerged from behind a large tree. The person was wrapped entirely in black clothes, 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 gravely.

The visitor removed his hood, revealing a weathered face.

"You are... Tang Hao?!" Dugu Bo hesitated 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 is me. Dugu Bo, I do not want the secret of Little San's Martial Soul to be leaked," Tang Hao said flatly.

"You are ordering this old man?" Dugu Bo's aura immediately bore down on 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 even the slightest trace of Tang San's information could be leaked. Tang San was his hope for revenge.

"Good! Today, this old man will experience the power of the world's greatest Tool Martial Soul."

Dugu Bo was furious. He immediately activated Martial Soul Possession. His Martial Soul had changed somewhat: a pair of long horns had grown from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's head, four bulges protruded from its belly, and its scales had become broader. Two yellow, two purple, and five black Soul Rings pulsed around him.

After suppressing the toxins for the past three years, Dugu Bo had consumed that Nine-Rank Dragon Ganoderma. The Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor showed faint signs of transforming into a dragon, though the transformation had not fully 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, he condensed a black light in his palm, forming a massive weapon. At the same time, nine Soul Rings quietly appeared around him.

Though his ninth Soul Ring was an eerie blood-red, its aura was not much stronger than Dugu Bo's.

Dugu Bo saw Tang Hao's Ninth Soul Ring but remained calm.

His first seven Soul Rings lit up simultaneously. Then his lean, tall body began expanding continuously amid the jade light, soaring upward.

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

As Tang Hao watched Dugu Bo unleash his Martial Soul Avatar, his own seventh Soul Ring lit up as well. Immediately afterward, a dark-red field abruptly spread outward.

Divine Slaughter's Domain!

After briefly suppressing Dugu Bo, Tang Hao's first three Soul Rings lit up in succession. He swung the Clear Sky Hammer, his face filled with domineering ferocity, and smashed it forward.

Dugu Bo quickly broke free of the suppression. Seeing the Clear Sky Hammer descending upon him, he lashed out with his enormous tail, which tore through the air with a sharp howl.

Boom!

A thunderous blast shook the air, and more than half the surrounding trees were destroyed.

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

I absolutely cannot take it head-on!

Tang Hao also felt his arm go slightly numb, and he looked at Dugu Bo in surprise.

"You broke through to level 95!" There was faint astonishment in his tone. After all, he himself had only just broken through to level 94.

"What, this old man cannot break through to level 95?" Dugu Bo mocked.

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

It was none other than the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!

Facing Tang Hao's assault, Dugu Bo grew increasingly stifled. Most of his Soul Skills were large-scale attacks and could not be used freely, or Nuoding City would be finished. Meanwhile, Tang Hao's hammer strikes were utterly tyrannical. Though Dugu Bo's Martial Soul had evolved and he was one level above Tang Hao, he was still forced to hold back.

"Enough! Tang Hao!"

Dugu Bo activated his Eighth Soul Skill: Time Condensation! Immediately after, two pale white rays shot from the Jade Phosphorous Serpent Emperor's eyes, which had turned completely white, racing straight toward Tang Hao's body.

Dugu Bo's Soul Bone and Eighth Soul Ring came from the same Soul Beast. When used together, they instantly restrained Tang Hao in midair.

Seizing the opportunity, Dugu Bo's final Soul Ring lit up.

Ninth Soul Skill: Jade Phosphor Divine Light

Tang Hao was not flustered in the slightest as he watched the Ninth Soul Skill rush toward him. With a great shout, his first two yellow Soul Rings suddenly exploded.

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

Boom!

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

At the same time, he almost instantly broke through the effects of Dugu Bo's Soul Skill.

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

An even more violent explosion rang out, and the surrounding area had already been leveled to the ground.

"Damn it."

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

If they kept fighting, whether Dugu Bo would die was uncertain, but Tang Hao would no longer be able to suppress his old injuries. He might not have many days left to live then. Spirit Hall had not yet been avenged, so he could not die.

As the dust settled, Dugu Bo also released his Martial Soul Avatar. Looking at Tang Hao fleeing away, he did not give chase. He was rather shocked by Tang Hao's performance, especially that final move. He had never seen such a Soul Skill before, and he was not confident he could defeat Tang Hao.

"Humph!"

With a cold snort, Dugu Bo returned to the hotel. They could not stay in Nuoding City any longer. Such a huge disturbance would definitely alert many people, so they should leave overnight!

Seeing Dugu Bo return safely, Dugu Chen finally relaxed. He had heard that enormous commotion just now. Though he had confidence in Dugu Bo, he could not help feeling worried.

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