Misunderstanding

The commotion of their duel was not loud, yet it was still detected by Tang Hao, who had been waiting nearby for quite some time.

"Are you in trouble, Little San?"

Tang Hao took two steps in one, leaped into the air, and rushed toward the direction of the battle.

Before he even landed, Tang Hao realized he was enveloped by an invisible force, his attributes being suppressed in every aspect by this intangible power. Even as a Title Douluo, he could not prevent this force from weakening him.

Fortunately, the degree of suppression was not significant, and its impact on him was minimal. However, the same could not be said for his son, Tang San, and Tang Hao could not help but feel a surge of worry.

"Clang, clang, clang..."

The sound of the Green Steel Sword colliding with the Clear Sky Hammer was incessant. Even though both had held back, Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer was still covered in scars and riddled with sword marks.

"I can't imagine how powerful you will be once you awaken your Martial Soul! And this domain of yours..."

Before Tang San could finish, Ling Chen's domain vanished, and the Green Steel Sword in his hand disappeared as well.

Because he lacked soul power to sustain it, Ling Chen had been using his Martial Soul Origin to maintain his Peerless Domain. In this short span of combat, Ling Chen's forty-thousand-plus points of Martial Soul Origin had been completely exhausted.

The more his domain expanded, the stronger the buffs and debuffs became, and the faster his Martial Soul Origin was consumed.

"It seems that even after leaving Slaughter City, I am still just a child."

Tang San lowered his Clear Sky Hammer and shook his head.

"You are already very strong! With such a powerful Martial Soul and domain, there is no one among your peers who can be your opponent."

Tang San stroked the sword marks on his Clear Sky Hammer, his face full of gravity. If he did not use soul skills or hidden weapons, in a pure frontal collision, his Clear Sky Hammer would definitely have been cleaved open by Ling Chen.

Just then, a shockwave surged toward the two of them, and billowing dust instantly engulfed them both.

"Who dares to touch my son!"

Tang Hao dragged his Clear Sky Hammer, approaching the two figures in the dust step by step.

"Dad!"

Sensing Tang Hao's aura, Tang San immediately rushed out of the smoke to meet him. Tang Hao said nothing; he swung his Clear Sky Hammer and smashed it toward the spot where Ling Chen had just been standing.

"No! Dad!"

Tang San immediately used Blue Silver Grass to form a Blue Silver Cage around Ling Chen's position, and before long, the scarred Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, colliding with Tang Hao's hammer.

The tyrannical, overbearing force instantly sent Tang San flying. Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer shattered the Blue Silver Cage in an instant, kicking up another cloud of billowing dust.

Just when Tang San thought Ling Chen must surely be dead, the dust settled, and there was no corpse of Ling Chen within the shattered Blue Silver Cage.

"Little San! Don't stop me; no one has ever dared to bully my son!"

Tang Hao scanned his surroundings vigilantly, knowing that his Clear Sky Hammer had missed its mark.

"Dad, he..."

Before Tang San could finish, Tang Hao had already unleashed his Slaughter God's Domain, shrouding the surrounding ten-mile radius in the blink of an eye.

"Found you!"

Tang Hao pushed off with his calves, the immense explosive force instantly creating a sonic boom, and his imposing Clear Sky Hammer descended with a roar.

"BOOM!"

The entire forest shook, and at the point of impact, a massive crater appeared, with surrounding trees collapsing one after another.

However, even after such an outburst, Tang Hao's face remained grim. This strike had missed as well!

Ling Chen was currently leaning against a tree, gasping for air. It was simply too terrifying! The intense killing intent reminded Ling Chen that his surroundings were extremely dangerous, yet he had no idea where to hide.

He had just left Slaughter City; he was a stranger in a strange land, and he hadn't provoked anyone—so why was he being hunted down?

"Damn it! Is this world really targeting me?"

Ling Chen cursed inwardly. How could it be such a coincidence that they were hunting him down just as his Martial Soul Origin was exhausted!

But now, Ling Chen had no other options; just like in Slaughter City, he could only hide and evade.

Seeing his two attacks miss, Tang Hao immediately revealed his Soul Rings, and his soul skills were activated accordingly.

Tang San knew he couldn't stop Tang Hao, so he could only find a way to help Ling Chen escape. He expanded his Blue Silver Domain and, within a breath, located the hiding Ling Chen.

A Blue Silver vine soon appeared at Ling Chen's feet, wrapped around his ankle, and pulled him toward Tang San's direction.

Tang Hao was somewhat confused as to why his son would stop him and even help the person who had bullied him.

But he couldn't dwell on that; at the very least, he had to make the person who bullied his son pay the price.

"Where do you think you're going!"

Tang Hao chased with his hammer, while Ling Chen was relayed back and forth by the Blue Silver Grass, safely arriving behind Tang San.

"Dad, why are you trying to kill Li Tianyi?"

Tang San was confused at this moment. He and Ling Chen had just finished sparring, and Tang Hao had immediately begun hunting Ling Chen down; there must be some misunderstanding.

However, before Tang San could ponder further, Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer was already upon them.

"Dad! Stop!"

This time, Tang San did not use his Clear Sky Hammer to block Tang Hao's attack; instead, he spread his arms wide, shielding Ling Chen behind him.

Seeing Tang San use his own body to block the blow, Tang Hao hurriedly shouted.

"Little San! Move aside!"

Tang San remained unmoved, his eyes fixed with determination on the descending Clear Sky Hammer.

"BOOM!"

Accompanied by a deafening roar, Ling Chen shivered as he hid behind Tang San. It was at this moment that he realized who was hunting him.

From the moment Tang San had called out "Dad," Ling Chen knew the man's identity, yet he could not recall having any grievances with Tang Hao.

Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer slammed into a tree beside them, shattering it into splinters.

"Little San, why would you do such a thing?"

Tang Hao looked at Tang San with a stern expression. Seeing that Tang Hao was willing to stop and talk, Tang San stepped aside, revealing a six-year-old child looking at him in terror.

"This..."

Seeing this, Tang San countered with a question.

"Dad, why would you resort to such violence against a six-year-old child?"

The sudden moral high ground left Tang Hao momentarily speechless.

"When I arrived just now, I was affected by a domain and assumed someone was bullying you, so I..."

Tang Hao looked at Ling Chen's frail, young frame and felt a surge of guilt, but he soon sensed that something was wrong.

How had this little boy managed to dodge his attacks? Logically, when Tang San used the Blue Silver Cage to protect him, he should have been trapped.

Not only that, but his second strike had missed entirely! A normal child, even one who had awakened their martial soul, shouldn't be this monstrously talented.

"Who exactly is he? A six-year-old child shouldn't be able to dodge two of my strikes!"

The aura Tang Hao had initially restrained erupted once more, and a cold killing intent began to spread.

Ling Chen suddenly thought of something. He could also use killing intent; although he couldn't combine it with his Peerless Domain—which he was currently unable to manifest—to exert suppression, it would still be enough to scare someone.