Douluo: Poisonous Tongue, Loves Telling the Truth

Whether it was an adrenaline rush from his blind rage or simply his robust physical constitution, Tang San did not pass out after taking such a kick from Xia Ran.

He spat out a few mouthfuls of blood, his expression twisted with extreme malice as he stared fixedly at Xia Ran.

Seeing with his own eyes that Xia Ran had ordered Oscar to take Xiao Wu and Zhu Zhuqing away had driven him to the brink of insanity.

A vast expanse of Blue Silver Grass appeared out of thin air, surging wildly around Tang San.

"Xia Ran! It's you again, why is it always you!"

[First Soul Skill: Bind]

Although Tang San's temperament had changed drastically in recent days, he had found that without any distractions, his cultivation progress was twice as fast as before.

He had recently developed a combat style where he would control his target with Blue Silver Grass before delivering a fatal blow with hidden weapons.

He had invented many such attack patterns that combined his Blue Silver Grass with his hidden weapons.

Therefore, facing Xia Ran again, Tang San no longer felt the fear he once had; instead, he felt a burning desire to prove himself in front of Yu Xiaogang.

Tang San is not trash! The teacher's theories are not wrong! The one who is wrong is Xia Ran! It is the entire martial soul theoretical system!

If Xia Ran can defeat opponents of a higher rank, then so can Tang San!

Countless strands of Blue Silver Grass lunged toward Xia Ran. Upon closer inspection, one could see that several of the vines were actually black.

Seeing this, Xia Ran utilized Shadow Escape, instantly appearing right in front of Tang San.

Without a moment's hesitation, he delivered another kick!

BANG!!!

Tang San had just managed to get up and hadn't even realized how Xia Ran had closed the distance before he was pinned firmly against a tree trunk once again.

In his Martial Soul Avatar state, the force behind Xia Ran's strikes was comparable to that of a power attack soul master of the same rank. With this kick, most of Tang San's chest was shattered, and he was now struggling even to breathe.

"Who gave you the courage to raise a hand against me!"

A pair of gold and black eyes locked onto Tang San's gaze, the cold indifference within them seemingly capable of devouring everything.

Xia Ran drew the long blade at his waist, intending to kill the person before him right then and there.

Now that the threat of Tang Hao was gone, and the system had just notified him that the mission regarding Xiao Wu was complete, Tang San no longer held any significance to him.

It would be better to just kill him and be done with it, avoiding any potential trouble for himself in the future.

"Stop!"

Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang let out a sudden, thunderous roar.

However, the only response he received was a cold snort from Xia Ran.

He was not a soft-hearted person; counting the time Tang San had ambushed him with hidden weapons earlier, this was already the second attempt.

Without the slightest hesitation, he swung his blade directly toward Tang San's neck.

Seeing this, everyone else covered their eyes and gasped in shock; even Yu Xiaogang shielded his eyes.

But the sensation of the blade cutting through flesh that he had expected never came. Xia Ran focused his gaze and realized that it was Flender who had intervened.

The moment Yu Xiaogang had shouted, Flender had moved.

He hadn't been able to stop Tang San from launching his sneak attack on Zhu Zhuqing, but he could not stand by and watch as Xia Ran killed Tang San.

"Are you going to stop me?"

Xia Ran frowned slightly, meeting Flender's gaze.

Stared at by those heterochromatic eyes, Flender felt a twinge of guilt, even as the headmaster of the academy.

"You know better than I do what Tang San's actions signify."

"If he is allowed to continue growing, he will only become a scourge to the soul master world in the future!"

After these words, Flender's weathered face flushed red.

He was well aware of Tang San's conduct. To be so ruthless toward his own peers, ready to take a life at the slightest disagreement—if he were to leave the academy, he would undoubtedly become a bloodthirsty demon.

But after all, he was Yu Xiaogang's disciple and a student of the academy. If he hadn't had the ability to stop Xia Ran, that would be one thing, but now that he was witnessing Tang San about to be killed, he could not accept it no matter what.

"One last time! Consider it a plea from this old man!"

"After all, he hasn't committed any grave mistakes yet, has he?"

Chapter 39: Flender

Xia Ran narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the old headmaster he had spent years with.

To say that Xia Ran felt absolutely nothing for Flender after six years would be a lie.

Human hearts are made of flesh and blood. Although he knew the old man was often unreliable and had many petty flaws, he was the one who had taught him how to cultivate and helped him hunt for soul rings.

Furthermore, Flender's actions were always motivated by his concern for the academy and its students, which Xia Ran could sometimes understand.

But now, Tang San had repeatedly used underhanded methods to try and assassinate his peers; no matter how one tried to justify it, he was a demon who deserved to die.

On the field, Tang San was struggling to catch his breath from that final kick.

Flender knew he was in the wrong, yet he stood between the two, saying nothing and refusing to budge.

The atmosphere suddenly grew heavy, and at this moment, Yu Xiaogang trotted over.

"Xia Ran! I never expected you to be so ruthless, dealing such a heavy hand even against a fellow disciple who could no longer resist!"

"If Dean Flender hadn't intervened, do you have any idea what kind of disaster you would have caused today? Do you even know who Tang San's father is?"

Yu Xiaogang's righteous indignation drew the gaze of everyone present, and even Tang San, lying on the ground, revealed a look of suspicion in his eyes.

Who is Tang San's father? Judging by his tone, could he be some remarkable figure?

However, Xia Ran completely ignored this clown, and Flender, knowing the truth about Tang Hao, did not react at all.

Yet Yu Xiaogang continued to prattle on incessantly!

"His father is the youngest Title Douluo in the world—Tang Hao!"

"If he finds out what you did today, he certainly won't let you off lightly. If you dare to kill him, you yourself, and everyone around you, will suffer the consequences."

As he said this, a flash of cunning crossed his eyes.

"Xia Ran, the only one who can save you now is me."

"As long as I take you as my disciple, Clear Sky Douluo will give me some face. When the time comes, with me pleading on your behalf, you will be able to suffer a little less!"

After this speech, Yu Xiaogang appeared impassioned, as if every word were for Xia Ran's benefit, but in reality, the smile at the corners of his eyes could not be hidden.

Hmph! I don't believe you won't be tempted by this. Facing the fury of a Title Douluo, you have no choice but to pin your hopes on me right now.

Reaching the Soul Ancestor realm at twelve years old—with my guidance in the future, you will surely shake the continent.

Yu Yuanzhen, Bibi Dong, Liu Erlong! Let's see who dares to call me a waste then.

While Yu Xiaogang was still immersed in his fantasies about the future, Tang San, on the verge of fainting, was filled with resentment.

Why? I was treated like this by Xia Ran, yet Teacher still wants to take him as a disciple? Where does that leave me? Where does that leave my father?

At first, upon learning his father's identity, he had been very excited, never expecting to have such a powerful background.

But hearing that Yu Xiaogang wanted to take Xia Ran as an apprentice made him extremely angry!

Why? Teacher can only be mine! No one is allowed to take away the "love" Teacher has for me!

"Xia Ran, let me go today! I will tell my father to spare you!"

"San! Shut up!"

Seeing that Xia Ran was almost persuaded, Tang San suddenly interrupted the two of them. Yu Xiaogang immediately adopted the posture of a stern father to reprimand Tang San.

In the past, this tactic had always worked best, but for some reason today, Tang San was acting out and insisting on going against him.

"Xia Ran! I swear by my martial soul, as long as you let me go today, my father will never trouble you over this matter in the future."

Even at a time like this, the shrewd Tang San was still playing word games, his pair of cunning little eyes darting between Xia Ran and Yu Xiaogang.

"Rebellious disciple! I told you to shut up!"

Slap!!!

Faced with Tang San interrupting the apprenticeship for the second time, Yu Xiaogang landed a slap directly on the figure still embedded in the tree trunk!

"Teacher! You hit me?"

Tang San looked on in disbelief, struggling to pull himself out of the tree trunk despite the soreness in his body and the blood on his face.

He walked up to Yu Xiaogang, pressing close to his stubbly, aged face.

"You actually hit me for the sake of this Xia Ran?"

A flash of guilt crossed Yu Xiaogang's eyes, but it was quickly buried, replaced by a look of righteous indignation.

"I see that Xia Ran has excellent cultivation talent and cannot bear to see him buried in the crowd or dying in a misunderstanding; why must you insist on stopping me!"

"Enough! Get out, all of you!"

A roar of anger came, veins bulging on Flender's forehead; he had endured this master and disciple for a long time.

They were chattering on endlessly, and now they were even arguing over whether or not to take an apprentice.

Does Xia Ran need a level 29 waste like you to teach him? Does Clear Sky Douluo need you to smooth things over?

He was already annoyed by Xia Ran's aggressive attitude, and with two flies buzzing incessantly beside him, he finally couldn't help but explode.

"Flender! Do you know what you are doing? You actually told me to get out..."

"Get out!"

The pressure of a Soul Saint erupted completely, and the tyrannical aura even enveloped Xia Ran, while Yu Xiaogang and Tang San were sent flying on the spot.

One, already injured, fainted.

The other, too weak, fainted.

As for Xia Ran, who was closest to him, he remained motionless.

With level 50 cultivation, he withstood the pressure of a Soul Saint head-on.

His ink-colored hair danced as he held his long blade, his cold eyes—one gold, one black—staring down Flender in a standoff.