Gu Qingshan's gaze followed the two figures in the sky as they clashed above Shrek Academy, collided, broke apart, then collided again.
Every collision sent out a ring of visible shockwaves. Wherever they passed, houses collapsed, the ground cracked, trees snapped, and the air itself tore apart.
So this was what a battle between Titled Douluo was like.
Nothing like him, quietly specializing in reflecting damage. When it came to flashy effects, he really couldn't hold a candle to them.
Yue Guan's hands traced golden arcs through the air. Each arc was a petal from a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum, and the golden petals flew toward Tang Hao from every angle.
His ten golden threads wove one web after another in the air, layers upon layers, trapping Tang Hao inside a golden cage.
His nine Soul Rings lit up in turn. First Soul Skill, second Soul Skill, third Soul Skill... one after another, they burst forth, their golden light dyeing half the sky gold.
Tang Hao's answer was simple: smash.
Whatever it was, he smashed it to pieces with a single hammer blow.
The two fought from the ground into the sky, then from the sky back to the ground. In less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Shrek Academy—which had already been in disrepair—had become a field of ruins.
Flender stood on a distant hillside, watching the academy he had founded with his own hands crumble before his eyes. The corners of his mouth twitched several times.
He took a deep breath and forced down all his emotions.
"Everyone, fall back farther!"
A moment later, Tang Hao realized he couldn't easily take his opponent down. Ju Huaguan was far stronger than before, and Tang Hao was wounded. A prolonged fight would put him at a disadvantage!
"Clear Sky Avatar!"
"Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!"
The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand swelled in an instant, becoming a hundred-meter-tall black-and-red giant hammer.
The hammer paused in midair for a moment, then began to spin. One blow followed another, each linked to the next.
Before the first hammer blow had fully unleashed its power, the second had already added its strength to it.
Each blow was heavier than the last, and each one faster.
"Chrysanthemums wither, petals litter the ground; flowers fall, and hearts are torn!"
Yue Guan could only barely hold his ground. Defense was not his strong suit.
The final blow!
Boom!
Yue Guan could no longer hold on. His body flew backward, and the shockwave from the Clear Sky Hammer struck him in the chest. He crashed into the plaza, smashing a deep crater into it as dust billowed into the air.
Tang Hao was in no better shape. His old wounds had yet to heal, and now his blood and qi churned as his face turned pale.
A moment later, Yue Guan climbed out of the crater and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.
"Tang Hao, you truly live up to your reputation."
Tang Hao said nothing. He stood amid the ruins, gripping the Clear Sky Hammer, breathing hard as his chest heaved.
He stared at Ju Huaguan. The killing intent in his eyes only grew stronger, and he raised the giant hammer once more.
"Great Sumeru Hammer."
The Great Sumeru Hammer was the Clear Sky Sect's greatest secret art. It took the vastness of the universe and compressed it into a mustard seed, condensing mountain-like power into a tiny space. It broke through defenses with a single point and overcame finesse with sheer weight.
It was the highest art aside from Ring Detonation.
Yue Guan watched the Clear Sky Hammer descend from the sky and knew he couldn't evade it. The area covered by the blow was simply too vast.
The true meaning of the Great Sumeru Hammer was "nowhere to run." No matter how you dodged, the hammer would come down on your head.
He took a deep breath, poured all his remaining Soul Power into his Soul Rings, and prepared to take the blow head-on, even if it killed him—
"Heroic Leap!"
Then a dark figure leaped up from behind him and landed in front of Yue Guan.
It was His Highness the Holy Son.
"Copper Wall and Iron Bastion."
"Defensive Stance."
With every skill active, he raised the Thorn Shield and met the descending Clear Sky Hammer.
Hammer and shield collided with a thunderous crash.
"Boom!"
At the heart of the collision, a blinding white light erupted. It swallowed everything, leaving only that single color between heaven and earth.
The ground trembled.
The earth collapsed beneath Gu Qingshan's feet, and a crater more than ten meters across opened up.
Gu Qingshan spat out a mouthful of blood. His face turned as pale as paper in an instant. This time, he was more badly injured than when he'd fought Chen Xin.
The force of the reflected damage pierced Tang Hao through the abdomen, leaving a ghastly hole. His whole body flew backward.
Gu Qingshan quickly used the Soul Bone Skill of the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone to heal himself.
"Wildfire never dies; when spring winds blow, it rises again!"
His damaged organs began repairing themselves rapidly, and his torn muscles quickly healed.
Lying on the ground, Tang Hao saw the familiar blue light. His eyes nearly split with rage. "You beast! It was... you! You stole my Ah Yin... ah!"
His eyes bulged, blood vessels webbing across them, and a beastlike roar tore from his throat.
"I'll... fucking tear your ancestors apart!"
He couldn't catch his breath, and passed out.
"Dad!"
Tang San stood dumbfounded. His father, Tang Hao—the Clear Sky Douluo, a ninety-fifth-rank Titled Douluo—had been so awe-inspiring just moments ago, suppressing Chrysanthemum Douluo with his own strength.
And now he had been defeated by a boy who looked about Tang San's age.
Xiao Wu stood beside him, watching him look utterly lost. Her tears flowed even harder.
"Third Brother... Third Brother..." She called his name again and again, but he didn't react.
On the battlefield, Gu Qingshan climbed out of the crater, his feet stepping between the cracks in the rubble with faint crunches.
His breathing had fully returned to normal, his face was no longer pale, and color had returned to his lips.
Tang San Hammer, your wife feels so good!
"Elder Chrysanthemum."
"I'm here." Still stunned, Yue Guan answered instinctively.
"Go kill Tang Hao."
Chrysanthemum Douluo's pupils contracted slightly, but he didn't hesitate. He nodded and walked toward where Tang Hao had fallen.
At that moment, Tang San's mind finally started working again.
"Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track."
He raced toward Tang Hao with those strange steps, while a dozen poisoned Hidden Weapons appeared in his hands.
Gu Qingshan glanced at him and casually raised his Thorn Shield.
"Shield Slam."
A tremendous force burst from the shield's face, like an invisible wall crashing toward Tang San.
"Thud!"
Tang San's whole body crackled. Every bone and his internal organs shattered, and the Hidden Weapons slipped from his hands, clattering to the ground.
His body spasmed a few times on the ground, then went still.
He died with blood pouring from all seven orifices!
"No... Third Brother!"
Xiao Wu's shriek tore through the sky as she fell to her knees, wailing.
The corners of Gu Qingshan's mouth lifted slightly. Little rabbit, you're next.
The next second—
"Heroic Leap."
He soared into the air, traced an arc through the sky, then landed with his right foot on Xiao Wu's face.
"Thud!"
The back of Xiao Wu's head struck the hard ground with a muffled thump.
Her skull creaked, and the tremendous impact knocked her unconscious in an instant.
Gu Qingshan crouched down, drew a short blade from his waist, and plunged it precisely into her heart.
Xiao Wu died!
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